Blood & Mud

RBS 6 Nations preview: England vs Wales, Twickenham, 17:00, Saturday

Back in 2005 this was the match that set Wales on their way, could it be the same this year?  The answer, for a number of reasons, is no.  Firstly, Gethin Jenkins is injured, and losing one of the best forwards in the world will hurt any side, but a player as exceptional as Jenkins being replaced by Paul James is a doubly bad loss .  Secondly, Wales have only won at Twickenham twice in 20 years, so they are not due another one for a while; and thirdly England have neither Charlie Hodgson at 10, Jamie Noon at 12, or a pubescent child at 13 (he's older now).

One of the great things about this year's tournament is that the teams are pretty evenly matched and none of them - with the possible exception of Ireland - showed any red-hot form in the Autumn.  England, of course, were more awful in the Autumn than most, but the team they are putting out Saturday is unrecognisable from that which shamed the game before Christmas and so to draw comparisons is difficult.  

As an aside, England are wearing special shirts to commemorate 100 years of rugby at Twickenham; I feel they have missed a Wales-taunting trick by not also sporting massive victorian-style 'taches and hanging Welsh-nots around the necks of the opposition.

It will be very close, but I fancy an England win at home if only by a few points, but much will depend on how Flutey and Tait deal with the one-man wrecking ball, Jamie Roberts

b&m.com prediction: England by 3

Spotter's badge:  Jonny Wilkinson peppers young Tom James with 37 cross-kicks in the first 14 minutes.

TEAMS

England: 15-Delon Armitage, 14-Mark Cueto, 13-Mathew Tait, 12-Riki Flutey, 11-Ugo Monye, 10-Jonny Wilkinson, 9-Danny Care, 8-Nick Easter, 7-Lewis Moody, 6-James Haskell, 5-Steve Borthwick (captain), 4-Simon Shaw, 3-David Wilson, 2-Dylan Hartley, 1-Tim Payne.

Replacements: 16-Steve Thompson, 17-Dan Cole, 18-Louis Deacon, 19-Steffon Armitage, 20-Paul Hodgson, 21-Toby Flood, 22-Ben Foden.

Wales: 15-Lee Byrne, 14-Tom James, 13-James Hook, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-Shane Williams, 10-Stephen Jones, 9-Gareth Cooper, 8-Ryan Jones (captain), 7-Martyn Williams, 6-Andy Powell, 5-Luke Charteris, 4-Alun-Wyn Jones, 3-Adam Rhys Jones, 2-Gareth Williams, 1-Paul James.

Replacements: 16-Huw Bennett, 17-Rhys Gill, 18-Bradley Davies, 19-Jonathan Thomas, 20-Richard Rees, 21-Andrew Bishop, 22-Leigh Halfpenny.

Ref: Alain "Comedy Scrums" Rolland

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RBS 6 Nations preview: England vs Wales, Twickenham, 17:00, Saturday

Back in 2005 this was the match that set Wales on their way, could it be the same this year?  The answer, for a number of reasons, is no.  Firstly, Gethin Jenkins is injured, and losing one of the best forwards in the world will hurt any side, but a player as exceptional as Jenkins being replaced by Paul James is a doubly bad loss .  Secondly, Wales have only won at Twickenham twice in 20 years, so they are not due another one for a while; and thirdly England have neither Charlie Hodgson at 10, Jamie Noon at 12, or a pubescent child at 13 (he's older now).

One of the great things about this year's tournament is that the teams are pretty evenly matched and none of them - with the possible exception of Ireland - showed any red-hot form in the Autumn.  England, of course, were more awful in the Autumn than most, but the team they are putting out Saturday is unrecognisable from that which shamed the game before Christmas and so to draw comparisons is difficult.  

As an aside, England are wearing special shirts to commemorate 100 years of rugby at Twickenham; I feel they have missed a Wales-taunting trick by not also sporting massive victorian-style 'taches and hanging Welsh-nots around the necks of the opposition.

It will be very close, but I fancy an England win at home if only by a few points, but much will depend on how Flutey and Tait deal with the one-man wrecking ball, Jamie Roberts

b&m.com prediction: England by 3

Spotter's badge:  Jonny Wilkinson peppers young Tom James with 37 cross-kicks in the first 14 minutes.

TEAMS

England: 15-Delon Armitage, 14-Mark Cueto, 13-Mathew Tait, 12-Riki Flutey, 11-Ugo Monye, 10-Jonny Wilkinson, 9-Danny Care, 8-Nick Easter, 7-Lewis Moody, 6-James Haskell, 5-Steve Borthwick (captain), 4-Simon Shaw, 3-David Wilson, 2-Dylan Hartley, 1-Tim Payne.

Replacements: 16-Steve Thompson, 17-Dan Cole, 18-Louis Deacon, 19-Steffon Armitage, 20-Paul Hodgson, 21-Toby Flood, 22-Ben Foden.

Wales: 15-Lee Byrne, 14-Tom James, 13-James Hook, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-Shane Williams, 10-Stephen Jones, 9-Gareth Cooper, 8-Ryan Jones (captain), 7-Martyn Williams, 6-Andy Powell, 5-Luke Charteris, 4-Alun-Wyn Jones, 3-Adam Rhys Jones, 2-Gareth Williams, 1-Paul James.

Replacements: 16-Huw Bennett, 17-Rhys Gill, 18-Bradley Davies, 19-Jonathan Thomas, 20-Richard Rees, 21-Andrew Bishop, 22-Leigh Halfpenny.

Ref: Alain "Comedy Scrums" Rolland