ENGLAND v WALES 6 Nations International Championship

16.03.2013

Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	PT
ENGLAND	4	4	0	0	91	48	43	8
WALES	4	3	0	1	92	63	29	6
SCOTLAND	4	2	0	2	82	82	0	4
IRELAND	4	1	1	2	55	59	-4	3
ITALY	4	1	0	3	53	96	-43	2
FRANCE	4	0	1	3	50	75	-25	1

Preview
This is the feature match of this weekend.

The stage is set. England only need to draw but Wales must win by 14 points to settle the 2013 6 Nations test rugby tournament. For England there is a chance to gain the ‘Grand Slam’ if they win, the honour of being undefeated in the tournament. England last coveted this title back in 2003. It is fitting that Wales, who won the Grand Slam last season are hosts.

The form suggests England have been up and down with a poor display against Italy last weekend. They remain, though, undefeated in their last 5 test matches.

Wales has gone from strength to strength since they lost to Ireland in the opening round. It may well be Wales’ day.

Last Five Encounters
25.02.2012 Wales 19-12 at Twickenham (6 Nations)
13.08.2011 England 19-9 in Cardiff (World Cup Warm up)
06.08.2011 England 23-19 at Twickenham (World Cup Warm up)
04.02.2011 England 26-19 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
07.02.2010 England 30-17 at Twickenham (6 Nations)

England Last Five P 5, W 5
09.03.2013 v Italy W 18-11 at Twickenham (6 Nations)
23.02.2013 v France W 23-13 at Twickenham (6 Nations)
10.02.2013 v Ireland W 12-6 in Dublin (6 Nations)
02.02.2013 v Scotland W 38-18 at Twickenham (6 Nations; Calcutta Cup)
01.12.2012 v New Zealand W 38-21 at Twickenham

Wales Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
09.03.2013 v Scotland W 28-8 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
23.02.2013 v Italy W 26-9 in Rome (6 Nations)
09.02.2013 v France W 16-6 in Paris (6 Nations)
02.02.2013 v Ireland L 22-30 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
01.12.2012 v Australia L 12-14 in Cardiff

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

IRB Rugby Ranking Points
England 85.30, Wales 81.78

Prediction: England by 1 point

TEAMS

Wales
15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alexander Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 James Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Daniel Biggar, 9 Michael Phillips, 8 Tobias Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Samuel Warburton, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements
16 Kenneth Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Scott Andrews,
19 Andrew Coombs, 20 Aaron Shingler, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 James Hook,
23 Scott Williams.
Head Coach: Robert Howley (Interim)

England
15 Alexander Goode, 14 Christopher Ashton, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Bradley Barritt, 11 Michael Brown, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Benjamin Youngs, 8 Thomas Wood, 7 Christopher Robshaw, Capt. 6 Thomas Croft, 5 Geoff Parling,
4 Joseph Launchbury, 3 Daniel Cole, 2 Thomas Youngs, 1 Joseph Marler.
Replacements
16 Dylan Hartley, 17 David Wilson, 18 Mako Vunipola, 19 Courtney Lawes,
20 James Haskell, 21 Daniel Care, 22 Tobias Flood, 23 William Twelvetrees.
Head Coach: Stuart Lancaster