Key events
44 min: Wales knock on and we have a scrum, England win the penalty. Ford kicks upfield and England pick up where they left off.
42 min: It is Rodd’s Six Nations debut, what a game to come into. Genge is not injured, it was a tactical change. Potentially keeping Genge fresh for the Calcutta Cup clash next week.
Back underway: England 29-0 Wales
Wales surely cannot claw this back but they will want to restore some pride in the shirt in the next 40 minutes. Less penalties and some points would do that. Play as they did in the first half and England could be on for a record win. The current record is a 57-point margin. England have made a change, Rodd is on for Genge.
Wales have conceded 10 penalties and four tries in this first half. England have played well and would no doubt be ahead if Wales’ discipline were better but they have shipped at least 14 points because of the penalties they have given away.
Half-time: England 29-0 Wales
England in cruise control, Wales scrambling for any type of form. Steve Borthwick’s side are putting out a statement performance here and Henry Arundell is nailing himself into the wing shirt.
40 min: Wales with another error as Lake didn’t tap when he chose the tap and go so it’s England’s ball. That is embarrassing.
40 min: Wales are knocking on the door to get on the scoreboard before half-time but one attack goes awry with Rees-Zammit not picking it up. They come back for a penalty advantage.
38 min: England, particularly Arundell, are absolutely running riot and I don’t know if I have seen Wales so lost and out of ideas.
TRY! England 29-0 Wales (Henry Arundell)
37 min: It’s a hat-trick. Wales come up with the ball from the scrum but a loose pass sees England pounce and Arundell is the hero. Ford gets the extra two.
35 min: Wales’ lineout is overthrown and England are away. Chessum runs a great line but fumbles the ball and so it is scrum time once more.
34 min: Wales find some possession and Genge gives away a breakdown penalty, Edwards puts in a good kick upfield. Can the visitors get on the board here?
33 min: A kicking battle ensues and Ford comes out on top with huge territory gained. It is Wales’ lineout, which is clean, and the visitors clear their lines.
31 min: The scrum is reset and then England win the set piece penalty, they clear their lines and Wales’ best chance so far goes begging.
30 min: Wales’ lineout from the penalty is almost stolen but Chessum knocks on, a scrum to come.
29 min: Wales have possession and their first proper attack of this game so far. They are going one pass phases at the moment but they then win a penalty. Before they kick to the corner Wales are restored to 15, the subs have been reversed too with Mann and James back.
27 min: ITV’s mid half advert has happened while we wait for Genge to tie up his shoe so fans didn’t miss anything. A lot of opinions on the new adverts, what do you think of them? Email me.
26 min: England confident and purring. Wales shaken and shadows of their once formidable selves. The hosts could not have wished for a better start to this game.
TRY! England 22-0 Wales (Ben Earl)
24 min: Oh my, Wales cooked already. What a finish from Earl. Ford gets the extras.
24 min: That was a nice piece of defence as Genge is held up over the line, another try there for England would have been devastating for Wales.
23 min: Luckily for Freeman, whose wild pass saw Roebuck unable to continue the attack, England had an advantage and they kick to the corner.
22 min: Wales give away yet another penalty and England opt for the scrum again. They come away with it and they race it through the hands but it goes behind Roebuck.
20 min: This is becoming a bit painful to watch from a Wales perspective. Their discipline has been atrocious and they are their own worst enemy at the moment.
TRY! England 15-0 Wales (Henry Arundell)
19 min: There it is. Ford kicks across to Arundell who collects and scores. Ford misses the conversion.
18 min: England decide to go for a scrum, a good tactical choice with a prop and hooker in the sin bin. Wales are bringing on Belcher and Carre for Mann and James to contest the scrum.
YELLOW CARD: England 10-0 Wales (Dewi Lake)
Now the captain is gone after another penalty. This is absolutely crazy.
YELLOW CARD: England 10-0 Wales (Nicky Smith)
17 min: Another penalty and Smith is gone. Wales were warned.
17 min: The referee is having a word with Lake now as Wales’ penalty count is starting to tick up after they give away another one. England kick to the corner.
16 min: Wales cleared from the penalty but it is not long before England are back in possession. The ball goes back and forth before Ford puts in a spiral bomb which is well taken by Rees-Zammit who clears.
14 min: Before he can take it though, the referee is looking at an altercation between Genge and Mann. It looks like he pushed him and so the penalty has now been given to Wales, a silly thing to do.
12 min: Possession is exchanged but it is England who have the next attack with Earl gaining metres but then Genge spills. The referee pulls it back for a penalty advantage though, will Ford go for posts? Yes he will.
10 min: On the commentary Shane Williams has said these penalties have been unnecessary from Wales and he is absolutely right. England have been good so far but the hosts points have come from Welsh errors.
TRY! England 10-0 Wales (Henry Arundell)
9 min: Fans had to wait for a moment as Wales gave away another penalty. England go quickly and they find Arundell on the wing who is over.
Ford adds the extras.
7 min: England win a penalty and Ford kicks to the corner, the first try of the match could be inbound.
6 min: Steward is hit in the air by Mee, the challenge was a fair one, and he needs some attention. The full-back is soon back to his feet and back in the defensive line but he isn’t called upon as there is obstruction at the lineout so England can clear.
5 min: That is not the start Wales would have wanted, they know they are under pressure today and would have wanted to land a blow early. Wales will look to hit back quickly here as they pick up a penalty and they bang it upfield.
PENALTY! England 3-0 Wales (George Ford)
3 min: Nice and clean from the Sale Sharks man.
3 min: An error comes from the Welsh backs as they fumble a long ball and England pick it up. A few phases later they cough it up themselves but we come back to a penalty advantage, Ford points to the sticks.
2 min: The weather has not been great in London today and so we may not have the cleanest of games but both sides are bang up for it.
Kick-off: England 0-0 Wales
Here we go.
The players are out in the home of English rugby and the anthems will soon begin. The action just minutes away.
Are we about to watch the tournament winners? And no I’m not talking about Wales. There are a lot of whispers about England being the favourites to list the silverware but what do you think? Get in touch and let me know. As always do let me know what snacks you are digging into.
Here is Ugo Monye’s column on today’s game:
If any fans are confused as to why Maro Itoje is on the bench, he was absent for part of the training camp after the sad news of his mother’s death.
Here’s a trivia fact for you, Wales have not won at Twickenham in the Six Nations since 2012.
France coach Fabien Galthié named nine uncapped players in a 42-man squad on Saturday for their second Six Nations encounter against Wales next week, while flyhalf Romain Ntamack and Damian Penaud remained out for different reasons. Ntamack, who was previously sidelined for a kidney concern, revealed a muscle injury on his social media. Matthieu Jalibert will likely retain the No 10 shirt for a second consecutive match following his brilliant display during the 36-14 opening win over Ireland on Thursday.
Centre Kalvin Gourgues, who earned his second international cap on Thursday, has been replaced by Emilien Gailleton. Lock Thibaud Flament and third row Paul Boudehent are back in the squad after missing the Six Nations opener.
Among the nine uncapped players, flyhalf Axel Desperes has been called up for the first time.France’s all-time leading try-scorer Penaud, former captain Gregory Alldritt and centurion centre Gael Fickou remained out of the squad. Their omissions confirmed the clear shift in Galthie’s selection strategy. Reuters.
Wales fans do you need a jolt of hope? Rob Kitson has you covered:
Alan Dickens will leave his role as Newcastle Red Bulls head coach at the end of the season, the Gallagher Prem club have announced. Dickens joined the club in the summer of 2024 and was appointed head coach in October last year following the departure of Steve Diamond. In a statement on the club website, Dickens said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Newcastle and remain fully committed for the remainder of my contract. It’s no secret there have been some difficult times up here, but the people have been incredible and it has been a hugely fulfilling experience.It’s a very exciting time for the club with everything going on under the new ownership, and I mean it when I say I wish them every success for the future.”
On Thursday, the Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend dismissed claims he has been primed to take over at Newcastle as an attempt to “disrupt” his team before the Six Nations. PA Media
You can catch the rest of the action between Italy and Scotland, which Italy are leading 18-10, here:
Team news
England had to make a late change to their team after announcing on Monday. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso suffered a hamstring injury and so Tom Roebuck comes in on the wing. Regular England captain Maro Itoje is on the bench and so Jamie George will be the skipper until Itoje enters the fray.
England: Steward; Roebuck, Freeman, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, George, Heyes; Coles, Chessum; Pepper, Underhill, Earl
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, M Smith
For Wales Louis Rees-Zammit will play his first Six Nations game in three years after trying his hand in the NFL. He starts at full-back. Skipper Jac Morgan remains out after dislocating his shoulder in the autumn and so Dewi Lake will captain the side.
Wales: Rees-Zammit; Mee, James, B Thomas, Adams; Edwards, T Williams; Smith, Lake (capt), Griffin, D Jenkins, Beard, Mann, Macleod, Wainwright.
Replacements: Belcher, Carre, T Francis, Carter, Plumtree, Deaves, Hardy, Grady.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to England hosting Wales in the Six Nations. This rivalry is a fierce one and in years gone by there have been some tantalising battles to behold. However, with Wales’ current form England will be huge favourites to run away with a win.
Wales did break their losing run in 2025 but they have only managed to defeat Japan. They suffered heavy losses to the likes of South Africa and New Zealand in the autumn and many will be thinking they will come bottom of the Six Nations come the end of the tournament.
England, however, are on a winning run as they were victorious in their last 11 matches. Steve Borthwick is building something and the so-called ‘Pom Squad’ are a big part of that. It sees many big names, like Henry Pollock, start from the bench to have a huge impact in the second half.
Speaking of team news, both have announced already and so stay tuned for updates.
