Wales vs England Six Nations

Anticipation is already building ahead of the upcoming Six Nations clash between Wales and England on March 15 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. England, second in the standings, are looking to win their first title since 2020, and they need a bonus-point win to give themselves a chance. Their recent form is promising, highlighted by their dominant victory over Italy. However, with key players absent, Steve Borthwick will be forced into changes.

Wales have now lost 16 games in a row and hope their long losing run will come to an end against England. Despite narrow defeats of late, interim head coach Matt Sherratt has instilled renewed belief into the team. Wales, like England, have players missing, but as a nation, they have previously thrived as the underdog, which should make for a thrilling spectacle.

The Six Nations rivalry between Wales and England dates back to their first encounter in 1881, with this fixture shaping the identity of both nations. England dominated the early meetings but by the early twentieth century, Wales came on strong, particularly during their Golden Era of the 1990s.

Over the years, Wales vs England has produced many iconic moments, such as when Wales secured a famous Grand Slam when they defeated England 30-3 in 2013. Contrasting styles have arguably defined the rivalry between the two nations. England are traditionally strong with their forward play, while Wales have flair and attacking ingenuity.

Wales’ historic triumphs, such as their 1988 and 2005 Grand Slam wins over England, are ingrained in rugby folklore within the country, while England have enjoyed many dominant Six Nations campaigns, particularly under Sir Clive Woodward and Eddie Jones. As the 2025 clash looms, both sides will be motivated to win. 

The finale of the 2025 Six Nations Championship is here, and Wales and England have endured contrasting fortunes. Wales have suffered a challenging campaign from start to finish, and it’s included a heavy 43-0 defeat to France. With their losing run continuing, Wales parted ways with Warren Gatland mid-tournament and installed Matt Sherratt as interim head coach. While performances have improved, their losing streak is now at 16 matches.

England have had an up-and-down campaign. It started with a narrow defeat at the hands of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, but they bounced back with hard-fought victories over France and Scotland. Their most recent performance, a commanding 47-24 win over Italy, showed they’re back on track, and they will believe they still have a chance of securing the title, even though Six Nations Winner betting has France as odds-on favourites.

Wales

Interim head coach Matt Sherratt has several injury issues ahead of Wales’ game with England to deal with. Tom Rogers and Josh Adams are both ruled out, with Rogers’ fractured thumb requiring surgery and Adams struggling with a hamstring problem. Josh Hathaway is likely to start.

Despite these setbacks, Wales can rely on captain Jac Morgan, who has been one of their standout performers. Lock Dafydd Jenkins ranks third in tackles this year, underlining his importance to the team. The experience of Taulupe Faletau will also be crucial as Wales look to end their losing run.

England

England are without Ollie Lawrence for the clash against Wales in the Six Nations. He suffered a serious Achilles injury in England’s win over Italy. This injury has ruled Lawrence out for the remainder of the season, as well as the British & Irish Lions tour. Steve Borthwick has called up Max Ojomoh as a replacement, with Henery Slade likely to fill the No. 13 shirt.

Losing Lawrence is a major blow, but England have plenty of quality within their team. Starting with captain Maro Itoje, who will lead by example from the second row. The anticipated debut of Oscar Beard is causing a stir, as he will add fresh talent to the backline, and this could help to address the challenges arising from Lawrence being ruled out.

There will be several intriguing tactical player battles to keep an eye on at the Millenium Stadium as Wales host England.

Dafydd Jenkins vs Maro Itoje

Welsh lock Dafydd Jenkins is emerging as a real presence in the second row, showcasing exceptional defensive skills. He currently ranks third in tackles, and has displayed high levels of work rate. He will come up against England captain Maro Itoje this weekend, who is renowned for his athleticism and leadership qualities. The matchup will see a contest of physicality and tactical nouse, as both players look to dominate.

Jac Morgan vs Ben Earl

Wales skipper Jac Morgan continues to be a standout performer, leading by example throughout the Six Nations Championship. Facing him is Ben Earl, whose versatility has been key for England throughout the tournament. England also face midfield challenges coming into this contest, and Earl could very well be the solution to the problems they’re facing. The contest between Morgan and Earl will be key to securing the upper hand in turnovers and momentum gains.

Josh Hathaway vs Henry Slade

With Wales without Tom Rogers and Josh Adams for their match against England, Josh Hathaway will come into the starting lineup. His performance will be under scrutiny as he will come up against Henry Slade, who is replacing Ollie Lawrence. Slade’s experience and defensive capabilities will test Hathaway, especially in high-pressure moments. Both players will be looking to open up opportunities in the wide positions.

The Principality Stadium in Cardiff, with a capacity of 74,500, is the venue for Wales vs England, with kick-off scheduled for 16:45. Wales will be hoping to be backed by a large and passionate crowd as they look to finally end their dismal losing run.

The weather conditions will be fine in Cardiff on Saturday, with the temperature around 8°c. It will be mostly cloudy, but the wind will be low, and the Principality Stadium has a retractable roof if required.

Six Nations betting markets haven’t held out much hope for Wales throughout the 2025 Championship. While they are improving on the performance front since Matt Sherratt took over as interim head coach, they’re still perennial losers, and everything suggests that the losing run will continue for another game. Of course, Wales have to win at some point, but there’s currently no evidence to believe they can defeat England, who are in with a shout of winning the tournament.

What also dampens Wales’ chances is the absence of several key players. England have Ollie Lawrence missing, but they have suitable replacements who can come in and do what’s required. The game will likely be won and lost in the ability stakes, with England’s far superior and the confidence factor. Steve Borthwick’s team will be confident of getting the job done, and they’ll go all out to secure a bonus point win, as it’s the only way they can win the Six Nations this year. It’s hard to see a way Wales can stop them and stop the rot in the process.