** England v Wales ** Sunday 2:30pm

i find brian moore very entertaining. not in a good way though

Wales boss Warren Gatland has named Jonathan Davies and Alun Wyn Jones in his starting line-up to face England on Sunday.




Davies returns from injury to reunite Wales' most capped centre pairing as he lines up alongside Jamie Roberts.



The only change in pack, from the victory against France, sees Jones return in the second-row after missing the Millennium Stadium clash with a foot infection. He partners Luke Charteris behind a front-row of Gethin Jenkins, Richard Hibbard and Adam Jones, with Scarlets lock Jake Ball moving to the bench. The back-row remains unchanged with captain Sam Warburton featuring alongside Dan Lydiate and Taulupe Faletau.



Rhys Webb and Rhys Priestland continue their partnership in the half-backs.



There is one positional change in the backline with George North returning to the wing from centre, in place of Scarlets back Liam Williams who provides cover from the bench. North lines up alongside Cardiff Blues pair Alex Cuthbert and Leigh Halfpenny in the back three.



"It's great to have both Jon and Alun Wyn back and available and they come into a very experienced side," said Gatland.



"Jon came through the match well at the weekend and he is ready to go."



"We were happy with the response and performance against France but we know we will have to raise it another level on Sunday."



"We are really looking forward to going up to Twickenham, England have performed well so far and it's set up to be a great game with all to play for."



On the bench Ken Owens, Rhodri Jones and Paul James are named as the front row replacements and are joined by Ball and Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric to complete the forward cover and Mike Phillips, Dan Biggar and Williams provide cover for the backs.



Wales:
15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jon Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North
10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Rhys Webb
8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Dan Lydiate
5 Luke Charteris, 4 Alun Wyn Jones
3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Gethin Jenkins
Replacements:
16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Jake Ball,
20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Liam Williams



Date: Sunday 9th March
Venue: Twickenham
Kick-off: 1500 (local and GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite (Fra)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Aus), Lourens van der Merwe (RSA)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ire)

Is this the first time a team has been made favourites in the 6N because the last time the teams met they lost 30-3 ?

Well the media are English I suppose ... it reminds me of the 70's when despite regularly losing to Wales they regularly bigged up England because they had Andy Ripley and David Duckham.

'England crashed to a 30-3 defeat at the Millennium Stadium in last year's title decider, with the visitors' forwards overwhelmed by their Welsh counterparts, but Rowntree says his side are now a different proposition.

"That game hurt. It's well documented how much that hurt me and the forwards," he told a press conference.

"We have come a long way from that because we have learnt from it. I said at the time it was important that we capture the lessons from that game.

"It's driven us on. The intensity their forward pack brought to that game is something we are striving to match. I think we have shown we can do it, but we have got to do it consistently."

With Billy Vunipola [educated in Wales, finished off in Harrow ] having suffered an ankle injury in England's 13-10 win over Ireland, Gloucester's Ben Morgan is due to start in the back row against the Welsh and Rowntree has backed him to impress since he learnt to play in Wales.'

England last scored a try against Wales in 2010.

I suppose who you think will win depends on whether you believe in form or the law of averages.

Home teams in this comp tend to be favs, and home teams do tend to win, but you'd have to be brave to back England at these prices. I don't think it's wrong at all to have the winning team from last year's fixture favs at home, but at around 1/2 you've got to think that is pretty damn low. On the other hand Wales had a shocker in their last away game and got walloped by a team that looks very similar in quality to England, but then Wales often have the one shocker and leave it at that.

Seems to me that there's very little between England, Ireland and Wales at the moment, but whereas Wales have got players coming back for this one (Davies, IF fully fit, could be crucial) England have plenty missing with Billy Vunipola joining the growing list and their front-row just isn't as strong as it could or should be.

Backing the away team on the cap worked last round even though England won, so I'm going the same way again. Wales +5 looks pretty handy and should come in easy if Wales start like they did against France rather than against Ireland.

1.76 now. Has someone been ruled out? That price is...

Lady Margaret   

Think the Welsh half-backs are the weak link here and will cost us the game.

Not a fan of Priestland and Webb, while clearly a competent 9, doesn't look top-class to me.

Wales went well enough against France ...... Webb is quicker than Phillips who often plays like an extra back row forward. Unlike most forumites on here I'm a fan of Phillips but what clinches it for me is his questionable temperament.

Priestland is better than Owen Farrell who merits his place solely on his place-kicking.

Luke Charteris ruled out

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/england-v-wales-jake-ball-6785229

but a reasonable price imo

England for me too but then I called this fixture wrong last season.

I like this English group of players and I think they are on the verge of being very good and contending in next years RWC.  They are aware of their limitations at this point in time and play accordingly.  Difficult to beat, they don't lie down (as Wales did against Ireland) and seem to be a decent group of lads (especially in contrast with Gatland and Phillips and Co.).

Add in Corbisiero, Cole, Parling, Tiulaigi, hope that Ford comes good and the new League guy at Bath is the real deal and can be fast tracked...a match for anyone. Big power and talent coming through underage too it seems.

What happened last year doesn't mean anything.

cheltenham next week, people looking at 10 year trends

rugby....discount last years match


funny old world

No strong thoughts from me Rommel,but if push came to shove I'd probably go unders even though it's going to be perfect playing conditions.I just feel it might be a tight cagey affair and both teams have decent kickers.

forget your nationality for a minute

yes wales did win handsomely last year but this year ireland have thumped scotland, wales and italy

.....and england beat ireland.....and england have home advantage

who would you have as favourites??

Coin toss for me so am laying Wales.

Why doesn't it ?

Because the game is played today, not last year.

Wigan beat Man City last year ( 9 months ago )
Man Citeh 1/6 today
Wigan 20/1

Last year DOESNT matter

We'll ignore the fact Wales have beaten England in the last 3 games they've played as well shall we ?