England v Wales preview: Steve Borthwick’s charges to bounce back at Twickenham after Rugby World Cup warm-up defeat in Cardiff

Jared Wright
England captain Owen Farrell, head coaches Steve Borthwick Warren Gatland and Wales captain dewi lake

Our preview of the Rugby World Cup warm-up match between England and Wales.

Here we go again. England and Wales lock horns for a second week in a row, this time at Twickenham, as both teams continue their Rugby World Cup preparations.

It’s a big clash for both sides as the World Cup draws nearer, with fans holding their breath, hoping that their star players get through the warm-up matches unscathed.

Last week, Warren Gatland’s troops emerged victorious, securing a 20-9 victory thanks to second-half tries from Gareth Davies and George North.

This week promises to be an entirely different encounter, with Gatland naming a completely new starting XV while Steve Borthwick has kept just four of his starters from the defeat.

For Wales players, many will be looking to seal a place in Gatland’s final 33-man squad for the World Cup.

Conversely, Borthwick has already named his squad, and now it is up to the players to stake their claims for a matchday 23 slot.

While this is dubbed a ‘warm-up’ game, don’t expect anything less than the two sides going hammer and tongs at one another.

Where the game will be won

It’s hard to look past the men with single digits on their backs. The kicking battle from the respective half-backs will undoubtedly play a massive role, but getting the ball back to them from a stable platform is even more essential.

Last week, Wales were able to disrupt England’s set-pieces, particularly in the second half, but with the accurate Jamie George returning at hooker for Borthwick’s side and a more cohesive pack selection, we should see a sharper set-piece performance.

England won’t have it all their own way, though, with Gatland rolling out a more experienced pack too. Gareth Thomas and Tomas Francis replace last week’s Test debutants at prop, while hooker Dewi Lake will be out to replicate the efforts of Jac Morgan, who produced a stunning captain’s performance last weekend. Adam Baird also comes in at lock and will be out to dismantle England’s mauls, with Dan Lydiate and Taine Plumtree also able to apply the pressure.

Whoever can get the edge up front will put themselves in prime position to take the win.

Last time they met

What they said

New Wales captain Lake spoke of the honour to represent his country and revealed how head coach Gatland asked him if he would lead the side.

“I was on the physio bed, and he (Gatland) just came over and asked if I would like to captain the team,” Lake said.

“It was a bit awkward for me, probably because you are obviously stunned at first, and I just said I would love to do it.

“Yes, there was a bit of silence where I think I just said the one word because I was so shocked.”

The hooker also commented on the physical battle that awaits them.

“The game-plan is going to be relatively the same this week,” Lake said.

“It is about fronting up, it is about matching them physically up-front.

“It is important to have a bit of an edge and to not take a backwards step. It’s also about standing up for yourself and not letting any kind of occasion or any person get the better of you.

“A lot of this game is mental isn’t it? There’s a lot of little things players will try to do, especially England, who like a whoop and a cheer with a turnover.”

England boss Borthwick said his side were looking forward to playing in front of their home fans again, particularly with prop Ellis Genge earning his 50th Test cap.

“We are very much looking forward to our return to Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, and the opportunity to play in front of our supporters again,” he said.

“England versus Wales is always a special fixture, and we are pleased to be playing the visitors again so soon.

“We’re delighted for Ellis, who will win his 50th cap from the bench. He’s a brilliant professional, both on and off the field, and I’m sure Saturday will be a very proud moment for him and his family.”

Players to watch

The competition for the England starting fly-half role is rife, and this weekend, captain Owen Farrell gets his opportunity to make the jersey his own. Many believe that fly-half is the 31-year-old’s best position, and he gets to chance to drive that point home to head coach Borthwick. Farrell is undeniably world-class and could easily lock down the role.

After starring in the Premiership and Champions Cup with Saracens, Ben Earl finally gets his chance to strut his talents at Twickenham in a starting role. Earl has earned 15 Test caps to date, but all have come via the bench. The all-action flanker has yet to stabilise his place in the squad, and the clash with Wales is the perfect chance for him to do that finally. He is well equipped to shine with veterans Courtney Lawes and clubmate Billy Vunipola making up a well-balanced back-row.

If Wales don’t keep a close eye on Henry Arundell, he could be under the sticks in a flash. The now Racing 92 star is a box office in space, and while he didn’t light up the Six Nations, he will be determined to shine ahead of the World Cup in a hotly contested position. His incredible turn of pace and lethal footwork makes him a massive threat to any defence.

Another week, another new Wales captain as fan-favourite Dewi Lake takes the armband at Twickenham. The powerhouse hooker was sorely missed during the Six Nations and will look to quickly get back to his 2022 form in the red jersey. The 24-year-old is flying somewhat under the radar but is trending towards joining the top tier of international hookers.

Scarlets-bound Taine Plumtree has certainly made an impression on head coach Gatland, earning his Test debut last week and his first start this week. The athletic forward looks tailor-made for international rugby and has another opportunity to prove himself after an exceptional cameo in Cardiff. This week he has the arduous task of going toe-to-toe with the experienced Vunipola but judging on his stint last week, the 23-year-old is up to the job.

There are many Wales players worth keeping an eye on, particularly the debutants Joe Roberts, Kemsley Mathias and Keiran Williams. The last of the trio is particularly exciting after a stellar season with the Ospreys. Williams could nail down the inside centre position with Joe Hawkins now ineligible for Wales.

Main head-to-head

There are mouth-watering positional head-to-heads throughout the two starting line-ups, but the one that stands out is that centre battle between Ollie Lawrence and Nick Tompkins.

The number 12 jumper is up for grabs on both sides, with no player really dominating the role, and Lawrence and Tompkins could change that this weekend.

Getting over the gain line will be vital in this clash, and while the packs will be key to achieving that, the two centres will be just as crucial in that regard.

Lawrence has been a revelation since making the switch to Bath, and his power game, paired with some flair and his offloading ability, is a bonus.

Tompkins is a different presence in the number 12 jersey with his tireless work-rate on both sides of the ball. Gatland has historically preferred a bigger frame at inside centre, but Tompkins has such a well-rounded game that can cause all kinds of issues.

Prediction

There was an air of a Gatland-esque performance from Wales last week as his side looked far more stubborn to break down and capitalised on their opportunities. However, this week we believe that a more cohesive England team will come out on top. The club combinations and experience added to the team should get Borthwick’s side over the line. It won’t be easy as we expect it to be another tight game with England winning by three points.

Previous results

2023: Wales won 20-9 in Cardiff
2023: England won 20-10 in Cardiff
2022: England won 23-19 in London
2021: Wales won 40-24 in Cardiff
2020: England won 24-13 in Llanelli
2020: England won 33-30 in London
2019: Wales won 13-6 in Cardiff
2019: England won 33-19 in London
2019: Wales won 21-13 in Cardiff
2018: England won 12-6 in London

The teams

England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Henry Arundell, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George, 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Jonny Hill, 20 Jack Willis, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 George Ford, 23 Max Malins

Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Tom Rogers, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Keiran Williams

Date: Saturday, August 12
Venue: Twickenham Stadium
Kick-off: 17:30 BST (16:30 GMT)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

READ MORE: Five talking points from England’s team selection to face Wales

England Steve Borthwick

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