Preview: Wales v England
Everything you need to know ahead of England Men's opening Summer Series fixture against Wales in Cardiff.
Ellis Genge will captain the side at loose-head alongside Jamie Blamire and Will Stuart in the front row. Behind, David Ribbans and George Martin start in the second row.
| When? | Saturday, 5 August |
| Where? | Principality Stadium, Cardiff |
| Kick off | 17:30 BST |
| Where can I watch? | Amazon Prime |
Tom Pearson will make his international debut on Saturday. The 23-year-old Northampton Saint packs down alongside Lewis Ludlam and Alex Dombrandt in the back row.
In the backs, Harlequins duo Danny Care and Marcus Smith will pull the strings from scrum half and fly half respectively. Guy Porter starts at inside centre with Joe Marchant outside him. In the back three, Max Malins and Joe Cokanasiga are the starting wing pairing, and Freddie Steward is at full back.
Two potential debutants Theo Dan and flanker Tom Willis are named on the bench. They line up alongside Bevan Rodd, Kyle Sinckler, Jonny Hill, Jack van Poortvliet, George Ford and Henry Slade as replacements.
VIEWS FROM CAMP
Danny Care
"Steve and the coaching staff have stripped it back. It's about doing your job. It's very simple: Be yourself, be brave and back yourself. Hopefully us older lads can help and guide these younger players and get them to believe in themselves because the players we've got are special. There is some real quality there, and when released in the right way it will be dangerous.
"It's Test week. It doesn't matter who you're playing, we're going to try and win games and the best way to be prepared for France is to go and win some Test matches. That begins in Cardiff."
Steve Borthwick
"England versus Wales in Cardiff is always an exciting and keenly contested fixture. I am sure this Saturday will be no different as a tremendous first Test match of the Summer Nations Series.
"We have been impressed with how the whole squad has applied itself both on and off the field over this training camp. We are now looking forward to returning to Test match rugby as we continue our preparations for the Rugby World Cup in France."
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
2023: Wales 10-20 England
2022: England 23-19 Wales
2021: Wales 40-24 England
2020: Wales 13-24 England
2020: England 33-30 Wales
2019: Wales 13-6 England
STATS
England have gone on to win 16 of the last 17 away games in which they led at half-time, including each of their last seven.
England have won four of their last five Test matches against Wales (L1), including each of their last two.
The team leading at half-time has gone on to win each of the last seven Test matches between these two sides.
England attempted more kicks in play per game than any other side in this year’s Six Nations (34.0) and also registered more kicking metres per game than any other team (1057m).
England were the only side to win 90%+ of their own lineouts in this year’s Six Nations (92.4%) and also won a greater percentage of their own scrums than any other team in this year’s Championship (96.3%).
TEAMS
England
15. Freddie Steward, 14. Max Malins, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Guy Porter, 11. Joe Cokanasiga, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Danny Care, 1. Ellis Genge (C), 2. Jamie Blamire, 3. Will Stuart, 4. David Ribbans, 5. George Martin, 6. Lewis Ludlam, 7. Tom Pearson, 8. Alex Dombrandt
Replacements
16. Theo Dan, 17. Bevan Rodd, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Jonny Hill, 20. Tom Willis, 21. Jack van Poortvliet, 22. George Ford, 23. Henry Slade.
Wales
15. Leigh Halfpenny, 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. George North, 12. Max Llewellyn, 11. Rio Dyer, 10. Sam Costelow, 9. Gareth Davies, 1. Corey Domachowski, 2. Ryan Elias, 3. Kieron Assiratti, 4. Dafydd Jenkins, 5. Will Rowlands, 6. Christ Tshiunza, 7. Jac Morgan, 8. Aaron Wainwright
Replacements
16. Elliot Dee, 17. Nicky Smith, 18. Henry Thomas, 19. Ben Carter, 20. Taine Plumtree, 21. Tomos Williams, 22. Dan Biggar, 23. Mason Grady
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
England defeated by Wales in Summer Series opener
Three first half penalties from Marcus Smith gave England a narrow lead at the break, but two second half tries from Gareth Davies and George North proved decisive for the home side as Steve Borthwick's men struggled to capitalise in their opposition's half.
England took control in the early encounters, holding on to possession and working their way up the field from the Welsh kick off. It took Smith just seven minutes to get on the scoreboard, kicking a penalty from just inside the Wales half for an ;early advantage. He added ;a second soon afterwards to double the score.
The home team countered with six points of their own through Halfpenny. The full back opened the Welsh scoring account on the occasion of his 100th Test cap with two penalty kicks to level the scores.
England dominated possession for the remainder of the first forty, Danny Care and Smith pulling the strings but finding no luck inside their opposition's 22; The Welsh defence held strong. With the clock in the red, Smith kicked his third penalty of the game to send his team into the changing room three points ahead.
A momentum shift on the resumption saw the home side score the opening try of the evening. A Sam Costelow cross field kick to Aaron Wainwright opened the gap for captain Jac Morgan to press forward before offloading to scrum half Davies to find the whitewash. Halfpenny converted, and suddenly it was Wales ahead on the scoreboard.
North scored a second converted try as the game neared its final quarter. The outside centre capitalised on a scrambling England defence to dart under the posts following a successful Halfpenny kick chase down the left flank.
Fresh legs in the shape of Kyle Sinckler, Bevan Rodd, Jonny Hill and debutants Theo Dan and Tom Willis looked to inject new energy into England's set piece as they chased an 11-point deficit.
But it was not to be. Despite their best efforts, Borthwick's men were unable to overcome the Welsh defence and Nic Berry's whistle sounded on 80 minutes to bring an end to the game at the Principality Stadium.
The two sides will meet again next week on 12 August for the return fixture at Twickenham Stadium (17:30).
REACTION
Steve Borthwick: "We will see this experience as a positive as we continue to build towards the World Cup. You always want to win a Test match and you want to make sure you get your team in a position to win it. From my point of view, I'm looking forward to next weekend. England v Wales is always a fantastic Test, it's always hard-fought and what we have to do is make sure we take our opportunities better next week."
TEAMS
England
15. Freddie Steward, 14. Max Malins, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Guy Porter, 11. Joe Cokanasiga, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Danny Care, 1. Ellis Genge (C), 2. Jamie Blamire, 3. Will Stuart, 4. David Ribbans, 5. George Martin, 6. Lewis Ludlam, 7. Tom Pearson, 8. Alex Dombrandt
Replacements
16. Theo Dan, 17. Bevan Rodd, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Jonny Hill, 20. Tom Willis, 21. Jack van Poortvliet, 22. George Ford, 23. Henry Slade.
Wales
15. Leigh Halfpenny, 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. George North, 12. Max Llewellyn, 11. Rio Dyer, 10. Sam Costelow, 9. Gareth Davies, 1. Corey Domachowski, 2. Ryan Elias, 3. Kieron Assiratti, 4. Dafydd Jenkins, 5. Will Rowlands, 6. Christ Tshiunza, 7. Jac Morgan, 8. Aaron Wainwright
Replacements
16. Elliot Dee, 17. Nicky Smith, 18. Henry Thomas, 19. Ben Carter, 20. Taine Plumtree, 21. Tomos Williams, 22. Dan Biggar, 23. Mason Grady
SUMMER SERIES FIXTURES AND RESULTS
Wales 20-9 England
12 August - England v Wales - Twickenham Stadium
19 August - Ireland v England - Aviva Stadium
26 August - England v Fiji - Twickenham Stadium
