England vs Wales LIVE: Rugby result and reaction after Owen Farrell red card in Rugby World Cup warm-up

Momentum key for Wales

Wales have not won back-to-back Test matches since November 2021 when they beat Fiji and Australia, so there is a need to build on last weekend’s impressive 20-9 warm-up victory over England. Head coach Warren Gatland has made 15 changes as the clock continues ticking towards his World Cup squad announcement, and Saturday’s encounter will be the final opportunity for many players to impress. Wales have lost on their last six visits to Twickenham since the 2015 World Cup, which underlines the size of challenge ahead, but there were hints of a feelgood factor returning as a 65,000 crowd roared them home in Cardiff.

England summon the cavalry

England have assembled their big guns as they enter must-win territory just two games into their World Cup warm-up campaign. Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly, Maro Itoje, Billy Vunipola and Jamie George are among the front-line stars in action at Twickenham, and potentially only Ellis Genge and Tom Curry are missing from the strongest XV. With the pivotal opener against Argentina on September 9 fast approaching, England need a reassuring performance and to avoid a fourth successive defeat that would continue a worrying downward spiral.

Billy Vunipola is set to make his first appearance for England under Steve Borthwick after the head coach named a strong side for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up clash with Wales.

A rotated English side were beaten by a similarly under-strength Welsh team in Cardiff last weekend, but Borthwick returns to something closer to his first-choice team for the reverse fixture at Twickenham.

Owen Farrell captains the side from fly-half and is joined in midfield by a fit-again Ollie Lawrence and Joe Marchant, who squeezed out Henry Slade from the 33-player World Cup squad on Monday.

With Tom Curry out with an ankle injury, Ben Earl is set to make his first England start in the back-row alongside club teammate Vunipola after 15 consecutive bench appearances to begin his international career, while starlet Henry Arundell is an eye-catching starter in the back three.

England XV: Joe Marler, Jamie George, Will Stuart; Maro Itoje, George Martin; Courtney Lawes, Ben Earl, Billy Vunipola; Jack van Poortvliet, Owen Farrell (capt.); Elliot Daly, Ollie Lawrence, Joe Marchant, Henry Arundell; Freddie Steward.

Replacements: Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Dan Cole, Jonny Hill, Jack Willis; Ben Youngs, George Ford, Max Malins.

Wales XV: Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake (capt.), Tomas Francis; Rhys Davies, Adam Beard; Dan Lydiate, Tommy Reffell, Taine Plumtree; Tomos Williams, Owen Williams; Tom Rogers, Nick Tompkins, Joe Roberts, Josh Adams; Liam Williams.

Replacements: Sam Parry, Kemsley Mathias, Dillon Lewis, Christ Tshiunza, Taine Basham; Kieran Hardy, Dan Biggar, Kieran Williams.

The Summer Nations Series encounter will be shown live on Amazon Prime Video in the United Kingdom, with English language coverage on the streaming platform from 5.10pm BST and a Welsh language broadcast commencing ten minutes later.

Scarlets centre Joe Roberts will make his Wales debut in a team showing 15 changes for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up clash against England at Twickenham.

Roberts, 23, is partnered in midfield by Nick Tompkins, while there are also starts for the likes of wing Tom Rogers, fly-half Owen Williams, lock Rhys Davies and flanker Tommy Reffell.

Hooker Dewi Lake captains a side that sees Taine Plumtree, who lines up at No 8, handed his first Test start following an impressive performance off the bench in Wales’ 20-9 victory over England last weekend.