2025 Six Nations preview: Wales v England
Everything you need to know ahead of Wales v England as Steve Borthwick’s side head to the Principality Stadium for their final game of the 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations.
England travel to Cardiff on the back of three home victories, most recently a convincing seven-try win over Italy. They know that a win is the minimum requirement if they are to lift the Six Nations trophy for the first time since 2020.
England currently sit second in the Championship table, one point behind France and one point ahead of Ireland, who are third.
Wales are looking to end a winless run that stretches back 16 games, having lost 35-29 to Scotland last time out. Under interim head coach Matt Sherratt performances have improved despite two losses, as the team pushed both Ireland (18-27) and Scotland close.
During last year’s Six Nations, England edged a tight encounter with Wales (16-14) thanks to tries from Ben Earl and Fraser Dingwall.
England team
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| Where | Principality Stadium, Cardiff |
| When | Saturday 15 March |
| Kick-off | 16:45 |
| Where to watch | BBC One |
Six Nations title permutations
England, France, Ireland and Scotland are all still in with a shout of winning the Six Nations, although some have better odds than others.
For England to win, the most likely way would be by beating Wales with a bonus point and France failing to beat Scotland.
If France beat Scotland without a bonus point it would take a significant swing in points difference, as well as a bonus-point win, for England to lift the trophy.
Steve Borthwick's side could also finish top with a bonus-point draw, or even a loss provided they earn two bonus points and both France and Ireland fail to win.
Last time out
Keep your eye on...
Tom Roebuck's return. Roebuck makes his first England appearance of the Six Nations, having last played for his country against Japan during the Autumn Nations Series. He latched onto Fin Smith's cross-field kick to score an impressive try during that game.
Tommy Freeman takes centre stage. Freeman has started every game of the tournament so far and wore the number 14 shirt in each of those games. Against Wales he moves to outside centre, where he will be hoping to add to his record of scoring in all his 2025 Six Nations games.
Will Stuart's 50th cap. Since making his debut in 2020, Stuart has become a cornerstone of the England scrum, but recently showed another talent with a brilliant step against Italy. "It's a work of art," said fellow prop Joe Heyes. "He's the envy of all tighthead props."
Henry Pollock's potential debut. If he comes off the bench, the highly rated flanker will be making his first Senior Men's appearance, having already won the U20 World Championship and Player of the Match for England A against Australia A.
Previous encounters
2024: England 16-14 Wales
2023: England 19-17 Wales
2023: Wales 20-9 England
2023: Wales 10-20 England
2022: England 23-19 Wales
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Related topics
- Attack
- T - Tries
- M - Metres carried
- C - Carries
- DB - Defenders beaten
- CB - Clean breaks
- P - Passes
- O - Offloads
- TC - Turnovers conceded
- TA - Try assists
- PTS - Points
- Defence
- Tackles - Tackles
- MT - Missed tackles
- TW - Turnovers won
- Kicking
- K - Kicks in play
- C - Conversions
- PG - Penalty goals
- DG - Drop goals
- Set plays
- TW - Throws won
- LW - Lineouts won
- LS - Lineout steals
- Discipline
- PC - Penalties conceded
- RC - Red cards
- YC - Yellow cards
Dominant England defeat Wales in Cardiff in final Six Nations game
England put in a dominant display as they scored 10 tries to beat Wales comprehensively to finish second in the 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations. Maro Itoje, Tom Roebuck, Tommy Freeman, Chandler Cunningham-South (2), Will Stuart, Alex Mitchell, Henry Pollock (2) and Joe Heyes all scored tries and 10 points from Fin Smith's boot and eight from Marcus Smith saw England win 14-68. Wales scored through Ben Thomas (2), with Gareth Anscombe and Jarrod Evans converting.
England began at a pace befitting of the occasion as Fin Smith found an excellent touch from an early penalty. From the five-metre lineout Tom Curry wrapped around and created momentum, before Itoje picked from the base to power over. Fin Smith then converted for a 0-7 lead with just two minutes on the clock.
Five minutes later Wales looked to have hit back as Blair Murray scooped up a loose ball to run in from 45 metres, but Tomos Williams was offside in the build up and the try was chalked off.
Soon after England showed good strength to win a scrum penalty and Fin Smith found a deep touch again. From the lineout Elliot Daly carried hard up the middle and a few phases later Fin Smith fizzed a pass to Roebuck who reached out to score on his first international start. Fin Smith added the extras to give England a 14-point lead 10 minutes in.
10 minutes later, Murray almost broke free thanks to a clever chip, but a brilliant tap tackle by Luke Cowan-Dickie allowed England to reorganise.
As the game approached the half-hour mark, Wales won a penalty at the breakdown and Anscombe kicked for touch. They won the lineout and a few phases later Thomas went over, before Anscombe converted to make it 7-14.
From the restart, Ben Curry charged down Anscombe’s clearance to give England a platform in the Welsh half. Soon after, a pinpoint cross-field kick from Fin Smith found Roebuck who was brought down just short of the line.
However, a few phases later Fin Smith’s well-timed pass put Freeman through a gap to become the first Englishman to score in each game of a Six Nations campaign. His Northampton Saints teammate converted again to restore the 14-point lead.
England continued to show their ambition to score and just a couple of minutes later Cunningham-South – who had replaced the injured Ollie Chessum – crashed over from close range for the bonus-point try. Fin Smith converted to put his side 7-28 ahead.
On the stroke of half-time the ball ricocheted off Ellis Genge’s head and Fraser Dingwall regathered to find Ben Curry on his inside. Curry was tackled short, but England recycled quickly for Stuart to score on his 50th appearance for his country. Fin Smith was unable to convert, but England took a 7-33 lead into the changing rooms.
Five minutes into the second half, Wales found themselves with a scrum five metres from England’s line, but once the ball was out Ben Curry made a fantastic steal to keep the hosts out.
Shortly after, Wales were back in England’s 22, but Ellis Mee’s offload was knocked on over the line and England held out again.
Wales continued to threaten, but 15 minutes into the half the ball was headed once again, this time by Daly, and Mitchell hacked ahead to score and Fin Smith converted.
With an hour played, England returned to the opposition 22 and won successive penalties, before an excellent pass from George Ford found debutant Pollock on the wing to score. Marcus Smith then converted to put England 7-47 ahead.
Steve Borthwick’s side showed their attacking intent by scoring almost immediately after. Cunningham-South stole the ball at the lineout and Tom Willis broke through the Welsh defence, before offloading off the deck to Heyes for his first international try. Marcus Smith added the extras to make it 7-54.
As the clock ticked towards 80, Wales were determined to get a consolation try and did so through Thomas, who was played in by Evans who then converted.
However, England were desperate to have the last say as Ford found Pollock again, this time on a smart inside line, to charge over for his second of the game. Marcus Smith then converted to make it 14-61.
Even then, England found themselves surging into the Welsh 22 as the clock ticked over and Cunningham-South powered onto Jack van Poortvliet’s pass to score. Marcus Smith continued his perfect record off the tee to make it 14-68 and seal victory.
England were momentarily top of the table before France's win over Scotland, but ultimately the team had to settle for second as they finished just one point behind France in the final 2025 Six Nations standings.
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