Wales vs England: Grand Slam decider - Preview

The biggest rivalry in world rugby returns to the Principality stadium this Saturday with both sides currently sitting two from two so far in this years Six Nations. The Grand slam is on the line and neither nation will back down without a fight.

England go into the game as favourites after two rampant performances against the Irish and the lack lustre French. However, Wales are on an 11 game unbeaten run and have the opportunity to beat their own record unbeaten run against the old enemy.

Wales have been poor by their own standards so far this tournament but have shown the quality of a top side to be able to grind out the results. The first half against the French in their first game was described as one of the poorest in recent memory by pundits and fans and were extremely fortunate to gain the win after a calamitous second half from the home side gifting George North a brace of tries. Warren Gatland made 10 changes to face a plucky Italy side in which they could never get clear of the Azzurri and needed a late surge of Dan Biggar penalties to put the game to bed.

Since the Autumn England have looked like a completely different team to that of the side that faced the Springboks in the summer. The change that seems to have benefited the side the most is moving star man Owen Farrell to his natural position of fly half to allow him to control the game better. England have also been helped by the return of injured players like Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade who have linked up well and complemented each others game. The reintroduction of Tuilagi has worried defences allowing more space out wide for Slade to play in.

Another notable change has been England's kicking game with Farrell looking to pin back sides and force the opposition into mistakes like in the Ireland game. Ben Youngs has shown his class with his improved box kicking allowing the England wide men to put pressure on the opposing back three. However he will have to be at his best this weekend to trouble Liam Williams and co at the back as they are the best they have come up against so far. This has all been fun and games for top try scorer Jonny May who has been running riot against sides with no one able to catch him with his blistering pace.

Team News

The home side have elected to go with Gareth Anscombe over Dan Biggar at fly half. Many have questioned this decision as it likely to be a close encounter so goal kickers will pay a key part in the game and with Leigh Halfpenny out Biggar is their best place kicker. Tomos Williams is ruled out through injury so Gareth Davies returns at scrum half. Thomas Young is unfortunate not to be involved after his Man of the Match performance against Italy in the last round.

Wales: Liam Williams; George North , Jonathan Davies , Hadleigh Parkes , Josh Adams ; Gareth Anscombe , Gareth Davies ; Rob Evans , Ken Owens, Tomas Francis , Cory Hill , Alun Wyn Jones (captain), Josh Navidi , Justin Tipuric , Ross Moriarty .

Replacements: Elliot Dee , Nicky Smith , Dillon Lewis ), Adam Beard , Aaron Wainwright , Aled Davies , Dan Biggar , Owen Watkin

England have brought in Exeter Cheif Ben Moon to replace the immense Mako Vunipola who suffered an ankle injury in the previous round. Ellis Genge therefore moves onto the bench. Another Chief Jack Nowell replaces Chris Ashton with Bath man Joe Cokansiga and Brad Shields returning to the side on the bench.

England team to face Wales: Daly; Nowell, Slade, Tuilagi, May; Farrell, Youngs; Moon, George, Sinckler, Lawes, Kruis, Wilson, Curry, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Williams, Launchbury, Shields, Robson, Ford, Cokanasiga.

Coaches words

As always the past fortnight there has been many attempts to play mind games by both coaches with Eddie Jones saying that it is 'the best welsh side ever.'

Gatland didn't reply with a flattering approach by saying prop Kyle Sinckler was a 'ticking time bomb' and that England's arrangement to travel on Friday morning was a 'significant mistake.'

Jones has encouraged his side to not be nervous and enjoy the occasion, saying: "We have to enjoy that, that is part of Test rugby,"

"You feel the might of the country, because the whole country is behind them, not just the rugby people."

"We are going to enjoy the environment. How fantastic is it, the English going to Wales, 65,000 people there, all expecting Wales to win and us going there to play a brutal physical game, play smart rugby and come off victors?"

The Welsh coach has encouraged his side to not get drawn into daft behaviour, saying: "One thing I can't stand about the game is foul play. We want to play tough and hard, bring as much physicality as we can, but playing to the laws of the game."

"This has become a really big game for both of us, not so much for the Six Nations, but building for the rest of the year - World Cup plans for Japan."

"Win this game and I think it sets you up mentally as much as anything for the rest of the year."

Prediction

I think it will be a close heated encounter with England taking the win with a late surge in the last 20 minutes. The battle between Hadleigh Parkes and Tuilagi should be massive and it will be interesting to see how Moon does up front. I think England by 13.

sources: BBC Sport

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