Rugby Test: England v Wales

14.02.2009
England v Wales in Cardiff.

Preview
Wales are riding the top of the European rugby world at present. They are so far on track to repeat their 6 Nations Championship win and Grand Slam last season. The thought of a wobbly English side must be mouthwatering to a Welsh side always eager to inflict painfull victories over their traditional 'enemy'.

England took advantage of a disorganised Italian side last weekend and posted a much needed win. Not all is well with the execution of game plans. England will need to play well above recent form to make any impact against Wales. A thunderous reception awaits England at the stadium in Cardiff.

Last Five Encounters
02.02.2008 Wales 26-19 at Twickenham (6 Nations)
04.08.2007 England 62-5 at Twickenham (World Cup Warm Up)
17.03.2007 Wales 27-18 at cardiff (6 Nations)
04.02.2006 England 47-13 at Twickenham (6 Nations)
05.02.2005 Wales 11-9 (6 Nations)

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-Wales 3rd, England 5th
Europe Table-Wales 1st, England 2nd

Prediction: Wales by 16 points.

Teams

England
15 Delon Armitage (London Irish) Age 24, 5 tests
14 Paul Sackey (London Wasps) 29, 20
13 Michael Tindall (Gloucester) 30, 56
12 Riki Flutey (London Wasps) 28, 5
11 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks) 28, 25
10 Andrew Goode (CA Brive, France) 28, 10
9 Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers) 26, 23
8 Nicholas Easter (Harlequins) 33, 21
7 Joseph Worsley (London Wasps) 31, 67
6 James Haskell (London Wasps) 23, 13
5 Nicholas Kennedy (London Irish) 27, 3
4 Steven Borthwick, Capt. (Saracens) 28, 45
3 Phillip Vickery (London Wasps) 32, 69
2 Lee Mears (Bath Rugby) 29, 29
1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks) 29, 28
Replacements
16 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints) 22, 5
17 Julian White (Leicester Tigers) 35, 45
18 Thomas Croft (Leicester Tigers) 22, 9
19 Luke Narraway (Gloucester) 25, 5
20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish) 26, 1
21 Tobias Flood (Leicester Tigers) 22, 18
22 Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks) 22, 24
Head Coach: Martin Johnson

Wales
15 Lee Byrne (Neath Swansea Ospreys) Age 28, 23 Tests
14 Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues) 19, 4
13 Thomas Shanklin Cardiff Blues) 29, 59
12 James Roberts Cardiff Blues) 21, 7
11 Shane Williams (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 31, 62
10 Stephen Jones (Lanelli Scarlets) 31, 76
9 Michael Phillips (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 26
8 Andrew Powell (Cardiff Blues) 27, 5
7 Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues) 33, 85
6 Ryan Jones, Capt. (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 28, 26
5 Alun-Wyn Jones (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 23, 27
4 Ian Gough (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 32, 56
3 Adam Jones (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 27, 53
2 Matthew Rees (Lanelli Scarlets) 28, 23
1 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues) 28, 64
Replacements
16 Huw Bennett (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 25, 18
17 John Yapp (Cardiff Blues) 25, 11
18 Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons) 25, 10
19 Dafydd Jones (Lanelli Scarlets) 28, 35
20 Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks, England) 27, 65
21 James Hook (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 23, 30
22 Andrew Bishop (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 23, 4
Head Coach: Warren Gatland

For a complete lists of all international rugby test matches played by both England and Wales go to www.rugbyinternational.net