Unlike some other international rivalries, the meetings between England National Rugby Union Team and Wales National Rugby Union Team do not have a specific derby name, but their games have always generated a heated atmosphere. Even in recent difficult years, the Welsh side have pushed their opponents hard right to the final whistle.
England National Rugby Union Team
The only recent encounter that lacked real suspense was last season’s Six Nations Championship match, when England National Rugby Union Team demolished Wales National Rugby Union Team in Cardiff (68:14). A year earlier, Steve Borthwick’s team had edged the contest only at the very end thanks to a successful penalty from George Ford (16:14). This time the Sale Sharks fly-half will again be in the starting XV alongside Alex Mitchell from Northampton Saints. Among the most experienced players, Maro Itoje and Tom Curry are expected to start the game on the bench.
Wales National Rugby Union Team
Wales National Rugby Union Team are still in rebuilding mode. The crisis is not over, either for the national side or for Welsh club rugby, where contraction is on the agenda. They have put behind them a catastrophic run of 18 consecutive defeats, finally ended by a win over their neighbour in the world rankings, Japan National Rugby Union Team (31:22), but a return to the top 10 is still a long way off: they remain almost five ranking points behind Italy National Rugby Union Team.
England National Rugby Union Team vs Wales National Rugby Union Team Prediction
The November test against New Zealand National Rugby Union Team (All Blacks) (26:52) showed just how big the gap is between the current Wales National Rugby Union Team and the leading nations; a week earlier, England National Rugby Union Team had beaten the same opponents at home (33:19). It is hard to see the visitors avoiding a heavy defeat in this match.
