Wales vs England LIVE: Result and reaction from Six Nations grudge match in Cardiff

Before kick off, a period of silence in solidarity with the people of Ukraine a year on from Russia’s invasion.

The rest of the crowd are warmed now as the flamethrowers blow by the touchline. The fireworks fly to welcome the players to the pitch, England all energetic before gathering in their line, the Welsh squad limbering up with a stretch or two before draping arms across shoulders.

The sun is out, too, making it a rather pleasant Cardiff evening with the roof open. Those towards the top of the stand on the city centre side of the ground are being warmed by the February rays - no inclement conditions to worry either side, though we aren’t necessarily expecting too much of extravagance given the state of these two sides and the importance of the fixture.

The England players have disappeared down the tunnel, followed soon after by the Welsh squad. Cardiff has been lively all day, with a throng of people lining the streets from the Principality Stadium up past Cardiff Castle. After a chaotic fortnight, there was an optimistic air to Welsh voices this morning - will all of that pent-up frustration translate into an improved performance on the field?

Alex Dombrandt insists England must silence the Principality Stadium crowd if they are to register a first win in Cardiff for six years.

Wales are hoping to recover from heavy defeats by Ireland and Scotland while Steve Borthwick aims to take another step forward in his back-to-basics approach after Italy were dismantled in round two.

It is a pivotal fixture that has the potential to break either side’s Six Nations and former Cardiff Metropolitan University student Dombrandt knows the impact home fans will have on Warren Gatland’s men.

When asked if England planned to silence the crowd, the Harlequins number eight replied: “Definitely. If we can have a good start and get on top early, you never know – the crowd might grow quiet.

“When Wales are on top, the atmosphere can be loud. If the crowd are quiet or not as loud as they usually are, then it means you’re usually doing something right.

“So the more we can nullify their threats and be on top, you’d like to think maybe they’ll be a bit quieter. I have experienced what it’s like on a match day in Cardiff – it’s crazy, it’s carnage – and these are the games you want to be involved in. The atmosphere is going to be electric, it’s going to be loud.

PA

Steve Borthwick, meanwhile, looks for continuity – the England head coach makes only one enforced change to the starting XV that beat Italy. That is on the wing, where Anthony Watson is an England starter for the first time in two years with Ollie Hassell-Collins suffering an injury blow. That much talked about midfield three is Farrell/Lawrence/Slade again.

The bench shows two tweaks: Ben Curry’s rollercoaster tournament continues as the Sale flanker takes a place in the 23 having been jettisoned entirely from training only last Sunday, while a fit-again Courtney Lawes might be influential as Borthwick hopes to avoid a repeat of the final-quarter woes that so irked the head coach against Italy.

England XV: Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum; Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis, Alex Dombrandt; Jack van Poortvliet, Owen Farrell; Anthony Watson, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Max Malins; Freddie Steward.

Replacements: Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Ben Curry; Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Henry Arundell.

It’s another week of major changes for Wales as Warren Gatland again spins the selection wheel as he strives for the right balance of faces old and new. Back in to the starting side come Tomas Francis, Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau to lend all of their experience to the pack.

The kids, meanwhile, will largely busy themselves in the backs. Louis Rees-Zammit is straight back amongst things from the start on the wing while there is a debut for Mason Grady, a very large 20-year-old but with plenty more to offer at centre. Owen Williams may now be in his thirties but his peculiar career means this is his first Test start.

Wales XV: Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens (capt.), Tomas Francis; Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones; Christ Tshiunza, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau; Tomos Williams, Owen Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, Joe Hawkins, Mason Grady, Josh Adams; Leigh Halfpenny.

Replacements: Bradley Roberts, Rhys Carre, Dillon Lewis, Daffyd Jenkins, Tommy Reffell; Kieran Hardy, Dan Biggar, Nick Tompkins.

Right, the action never stops on a Six Nations Saturday. The atmosphere is building nicely in Cardiff, with the Principality Stadium starting to fill.

We’ll have plenty more reaction to Ireland’s win over the next couple of days, but now we switch our attention to Wales against England - and what a week of build-up it has been:

Here’s the try that sealed it for Ireland - supreme patience to work through close to 20 phases and finally strike when the space appeared:

Helter-skelter stuff in Rome. Ireland escape with a bonus point win but Italy again showed their threat, pushing another of the big boys mighty close. On another day, and with more accuracy, that big home win will be theirs - this was ever-so-similar to the performance against France, and again they fall just short.