Wales v England - Teams and Prediction
SIX NATIONS, ROUND THREE: Threatened player strike assuaged, Wales will now focus on a first win in this season’s Six Nations when they take on England in Cardiff on Saturday.
A dispute over player contracts reached a head this week, with Welsh players threatening a strike over contractual issues.
But compromises were reached and the game at the Millennium Stadium will go ahead as planned.
Wales coach Warren Gatland, who made nine changes to the team that lost 7-35 to Scotland in their last outing, admitted that the dispute had been “a challenge, there is no doubt about that”.
“I support the players in terms of the action that was taken,” he said.
“Maybe there could have been a little bit more warning but that’s the way it is and they made those calls.”
As of Saturday, professional players in Wales now know that playing overseas is an option should you have 25 rather than 60 caps.
Player representation at Professional Rugby Board (PRB) meetings is also guaranteed while there has been a move on contract to include solely fixed ones alongside fixed-variable hybrid contracts (80 percent in set wages, with 20 percent as bonus payments).
The players, Gatland said, “are pretty happy with the outcome and what’s going to happen moving forwards”.
Gatland admitted that Wales having been successful in his first tenure as head coach between 2007-19, when he oversaw four Six Nations titles including three Grand Slams and two Rugby World Cup semifinal appearances, in 2011 and 2019, had “probably papered over the cracks a little bit”.
“It was stopping the dam from busting. The dam has burst now. It’s burst because the regions feel they are underfunded and haven’t got the success the players want,” he explained.
“As a national side we’re not being successful. The desire to play for Wales and be in Wales potentially isn’t as strong as it was.
“Winning and success often hides away some of the issues that are going on behind the scenes.”
𝑇ℎ𝑒 rivalry. #WALvENG pic.twitter.com/MDU3npFJJY
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 23, 2023
Exactly what we need
England coach Steve Borthwick, who has seen his side lose 23-39 to Scotland before rebounding to a 31-14 victory over Italy, said he and all his players sympathised with the Wales players.
“Nobody should have to go through the level of uncertainty they have had,” he said, highlighting the fact that the situation in England needed a rehaul after both Wasps and Worcester went into administration this season and no longer play in the English Premiership.
“With that in mind, I think this game is exactly what we need. We want these big exciting games that are full of passion that allow us to concentrate on the rugby.”
A fierce competitor, Gatland didn’t mince his words about what he wanted on Saturday.
“We owe it to ourselves to give a performance,” he said after two defeats by Ireland (10-34) and Scotland 7-35).
“I spent the first couple of games trying to get a real handle on where we were as a squad. I think I’ve got a pretty good feel for that at the moment. There is a lot of work for us to continue to do. There are a lot of things we need to fix ourselves rather than looking at our opposition.”
Top of the list were cutting back on a crushing penalty count, with Wales having given away a total of 35 penalties against the Irish and Scots, and limiting England’s set-piece opportunities.
Also an issue was players finding the intensity Gatland’s Wales teams of the past had achieved. “They’re not far away, but they’re not quite as good as they were in the past,” he said.
“Fingers crossed, when the magnitude of the game – what this fixture means and the history – hits they will be up for it on Saturday.”
Borthwick added: “We need to make sure we have the right game plan and deliver it on Saturday.
“It’s an experienced team,” Borthwick said of Wales. “I’m sure they are fully focused on the game now, as we are.
Players to watch
For Wales: Giant centre Mason Grady was selected to make his debut for Wales against England. Grady, who comes in at 1.96 metres and 110 kilogrammes, will partner Joe Hawkins in midfield. Warren Gatland will be hoping that Grady’s physical presence will trouble England in the midfield as well as give his team some more stability on defence. Owen Williams takes over at flyhalf and his job will be to give Wales some much-needed direction out wide. With Leigh Halfpenny at fullback, Wales will have plenty of experience in the back three. But there will be question marks around whether Halfpenny still has the speed and edge to go beyond defenders on attack. In the pack, No.8 Taulupe Faletau will need to be at his physical best against an abrasive English pack. His back-row partner Justin Tipuric will also need to slow England’s ball down at the breakdowns, especially in the strike zones.
For England: Anthony Watson is set for his first start for England since 2021 after being named on the wing to face Wales. Watson has replaced the injured Ollie Hassell-Collins in the only change to the starting XV that defeated Italy 31-14 at Twickenham a fortnight ago. Watson has plenty of guile and speed and he could be a major asset under the high ball as well. Talking about high balls. fullback Freddie Steward has become a master in winning possession in the air and his big frame will get England over the advantage line as well. No.8 Alex Dombrandt is a powerhouse with ball in hand and his battle with Taulupe Faletau is an intriguing one. Lock Maro Itoje is the heart and soul of the England pack and he will be called upon to disrupt Wales in all areas of the game if he can.
Head-to-head
Prediction
@rugby365com: England by seven points.
Teams:
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Mason Grady, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Louis Rees-Zammit, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Christ Tshiunza, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ken Owens (captain), 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Roberts, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Dafydd Jenkins, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Nick Tompkins.
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Max Malins, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Anthony Watson, 10 Owen Farrell (captain), 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Alex Dombrandt, 7 Jack Willis, 6 Lewis Ludlam, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Henry Arundell.
Date: Saturday, February 25
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 16.45 (16.45 GMT)
Expected weather: It will be overcast with a high of 12°C and a low of 3°C
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland) & Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
AFP & @rugby365com
