Saturday, 12 March 2016
What time does England v Wales kick off? What TV channel is it on? Who's in the two teams?
Everything you need to know about the big Six Nations showdown at Twickenham as coaches Eddie Jones and Warren Gatland go head-to-head
After three rounds of the Six Nations, only a point separates England and Wales at the top of the table - and they meet on Saturday in a match which could decide the destiny of the 2016 title.
We look at everything you need to know about today's game - from the team line-ups to where you can watch the game and who will be the star performers.
Who is playing?
England v Wales, Six Nations (Saturday, March 12)
What time does the game kick off?
The action starts at 4pm at Twickenham in south-west London.
Where can I watch it?
As with all England home games, ITV have the live rights and begin their coverage at 3.25pm. Presenter Mark Pougatch will be joined in the studio by Jonny Wilkinson, Sir Clive Woodward and Gareth Thomas. Commentary comes from Miles Harrison, with analysis by David Flatman and Shane Williams.
Alternatively, there is coverage in Welsh on S4C, starting at 3.15pm. Anchored by Gareth Roberts, the team will include former internationals Dwayne Peel, Dafydd Jones, Deiniol Jones and Andrew Coombs, with Gareth Charles and former Wales captain andWalesOnline columnist Gwyn Jones in the commentary box.
Is the title at stake?
Yes. A Wales win will see Warren Gatland's men virtually assured of the crown as their last game is against Italy.
If England win, Wales will be out of the running, while Eddie Jones' will go to Paris to play France in search of a Grand Slam. France will also be hoping for an England victory and - if they can beat Scotland on Sunday - will need a convincing final-day success over the Red Rose to take the title themselves.
A draw between England and Wales - which isn't out of the question - would set up another Super Saturday with Wales needing to pile up the points against Italy, while hoping France, assuming they have beaten Scotland, defeat England in Paris, but not by a cricket score.
The line-ups
England: M Brown (Harlequins); A Watson (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), J Nowell (Exeter); G Ford (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester); J Marler (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton, capt), D Cole (Leicester), M Itoje (Saracens), G Kruis (Saracens), C Robshaw (Harlequins), J Haskell (Wasps), B Vunipola (Saracens).
Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), M Vunipola (Saracens), K Brookes (Northampton), J Launchbury (Wasps), J Clifford (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), M Tuilagi (Leicester), E Daly (Wasps).
Wales: L Williams (Scarlets); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Clermont Auvergne), J Roberts (Harlequins), G North (Northampton); D Biggar (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets); R Evans (Scarlets), S Baldwin (Ospreys), S Lee (Scarlets), B Davies (Wasps), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: K Owens (Scarlets), P James (Ospreys), T Francis (Exeter), L Charteris (Racing 92), J Tipuric (Ospreys), R Webb (Ospreys), R Priestland (Bath), G Anscombe (Cardiff Blues).
Team news
Wales
Head coach Warren Gatland retains the starting line-up that accounted for France, although there are three changes on the bench.
Scrum-half Rhys Webb, who was called into Wales' Six Nations squad on Monday following a six-month injury absence from Test rugby, is among the replacements, along with fit-again lock Luke Charteris and prop Paul James.
Ospreys loosehead James takes over from 122 times-capped Gethin Jenkins, who is continuing his recovery from a calf muscle injury, while Charteris replaces Jake Ball and Webb comes in for Lloyd Williams.
England
Head coach Eddie Jones has also named an unchanged starting XV, but there are four changes to the bench in the promotion of Manu Tuilagi, lock Joe Launchbury, prop Kieran Brookes and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie.
Cowan-Dickie will provide hooking cover for captain Dylan Hartley after Jamie George was ruled out for around two months by a ruptured biceps tendon sustained training.
Brookes, who has made a full recovery from a knee injury, has edged out Paul Hill as the replacement tighthead prop and Launchbury takes over from Courtney Lawes on the bench, while Tuilagi returns after a21-month international exile in place of Alex Goode.
Ones to watch
England - Jonathan Joseph: While at the pre-match talk has been about returning centre Manu Tuilagi's ability to break down defences, he will only be on the bench. In England's starting XV, they already have a game-breaker in Bath star Joseph. There were calls for Elliot Daly to be handed the No.13 jersey going into this tournament, but Joseph has once again shone on the international stage, crossing for a hat-trick of tries in Rome.
Wales - Taulupe Faletau: While Wales have been warned to be on alert for England's in-form No.8 Billy Vunipola, his opposite number has already been in the thoughts of the home side. They are clearly wary of the Bath-bound Dragon, with Chris Robshaw being heard to shout 'Faletau's breaking!' during a scrum drill at an open training session. The clash between cousins Vunipola and Faletau could be key to the outcome of the match.
Who's the ref?
Craig Joubert (South Africa): One of rugby's top officials is back at Twickenham for the first time since Scotland's Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat against Australia. He awarded the Wallabies a last-gasp penalty in controversial circumstances which was kicked to deny the Scots a place in the semi-finals. This is a high-profile return for Joubert, who will have the help of French duo Jerome Garces and Mathieu Reynal as touch judges. The TMO is New Zealand's Ben Skeen.
What do the bookies say?
The bookmakers have installed England as warm-order favourites, with their unbeaten run and the Twickenham factor holding the key. But Wales will go into the match in confident mood after their victory at HQ in the Rugby World Cup, especially a number of their injury absentees that day are back.
Odds: England 4/9, Wales 2/1, Draw 18/1.
Did you know?
England have won 10 successive Six Nations Tests at Twickenham since Wales beat them there in 2012, though Wales have only lost four Six Nations games since the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
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