Wales vs England - Preview

As England announced their team sheet earlier today, here at Four Balls Blog we have decided to look into the match ups between the two teams, and we will tell you who we think will win. Firstly let's look at the fullbacks...

Leigh Halfpenny vs Mike Brown

Often mentioned in the debates about the best fullback in the world, Leigh Halfpenny and Mike Brown are two quality players that will be inspected very closely on Friday. Leigh Halfpenny's return from injury and Mike Brown's lack of his often scintillating form will make for talking points prior to the game, but both are big game players and should rise to the occasion in the atmosphere of the Millenium Stadium. Leigh's reliable boot may be exactly what Wales need as George Ford often struggles from the tee, and Mike Brown's strong running and athleticism can give England a much needed boost at any time of the game. Halfpenny will have his work cut out for him with England's pacey wingers and Mike Brown will have the gargantuan task of having stop George North at full pelt, something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Looking forward to this battle, as I think it will be very high quality.

Verdict: Tie



Alex Cuthbert & George North vs Jonny May & Anthony Watson

Pace. Power. Passion. That is how to sum up the battle of the wingers. Jonny May and Alex Cuthbert may lack in defensive prowess, but the Hartpury College alumni will certainly give it their all against one another. Having played together only once at Hartpury in a losing centre partnership, the last time they faced one another internationally came last year in England's 29-18 victory over the Welsh. Whilst England won't particularly fear Alex Cuthbert in the same way they will George North, they know he can score tries, as he showed in the 30-3 victory the last time these two played at the Millenium Stadium. It is that man George North that gives Wales the edge in terms of the quality of the wingers, and whilst Anthony Watson is a young, exciting  talent, the fullback/winger can defend and has bags of pace, I'm sure he will relish this opportunity, but it will be a battle unlike any other he has experienced. The experienced Welsh duo have the advantage on the wings.

Verdict: Wales



Jonathan Davies & Jamie Roberts vs Jonathan Joseph & Luther Burrell

Again the Welsh have heaps of experience over the English, as the England team field yet another centre partnership against the 107 caps of Davies and Roberts. Jonathan Joseph will look to show his pace and running strength against the reliable Davies and Luther Burrell and Jamie Roberts will continue their rivalry. Burrell is in over Eastmond because of his injury, but will be confident after the way he shone last year against Roberts, although Burrell's Northampton Saints suffered a crushing 8-32 defeat to Roberts's Racing Metro just a couple of weeks ago. There will be plenty of pride to play for from those two, whilst Joseph will look to emulate the way Burrell performed on his 6 Nations debut but will struggle against the consistent Davies, especially given the magnitude of the match, a scenario that Joseph has not experienced before. The accomplished centres of Wales will win this battle.

Verdict: Wales



Dan Biggar vs George Ford

Whilst experience in other areas of the pitch favour Wales, I don't see that being an advantage in the fly half battle. The cool head of George Ford is unaffected by pressure, his ability to create opportunities for those outside him has been evident all season, and his masterful kicking out of hand has excited England fans every time he has set foot on the pitch. His place kicking leaves something to be desired, especially with the reliable boot of Halfpenny up against him, but his overall game eclipses Biggar's in every department, and if he slots his kicks on the 6th then he could be crucial in guiding England to victory.

Verdict: England



Rhys Webb vs Ben Youngs

One of very few areas of the pitch that England have more experience than the Welsh. Ben Youngs with 2 Lions caps will be delighted to return to the first team with Danny Care somewhat controversially dropped from the squad. His pace is impressive, but his kicking game is excellent, and between him, Ford and Brown, England will have plenty of options to clear their lines, and get their quick wingers chasing the ball down. Webb keeps Phillips out of the first team after his impressive performance against South Africa but he will be put under a lot of pressure by the English back row and it will make his life very difficult, but from what we've seen of Webb so far, he should be able to handle it.

Verdict: Tie



Gethin Jenkins, Richard Hibbard & Samson Lee vs Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley & Dan Cole

 This could well be where the game is decided, up front. Will Dylan Hartley manage to stay on the pitch? Will Samson Lee continue his great form? Will the oldest looking 27 year old be able to seamlessly return to international rugby after a year out? These questions will be answered soon enough, but I'll do my best to predict the future for you now. Dylan Hartley, along with Joe Marler, has continued to mature throughout his rugby career, and I have no doubt he will keep his cool even in the Welsh cauldron. He is more skilled than Hibbard and is vital to the lineout, and in that respect, the early introduction of Tom Youngs to the lineout could cost England, so Dylan knows he has to stay on the pitch, and he will. Samson Lee, who has just 9 caps, has been sensational in what I've seen of him. It is too early to call him one of the world's greatest, but if he keeps on going, then that is exactly the title people will be giving him. Welsh record holder 110 capped Gethin Jenkins will be tough opposition for England, and his experience will be tough for Dan Cole to cope with after such a long time out of the international game, rushed back into the first team because of injuries. He is a great player though, and I see this challenge being exactly what is needed to bring him back up to the speed of the international game. This will be a close battle.

Verdict: Tie



Jake Ball & Alun Wyn Jones vs Dave Attwood & George Kruis

With a fully fit side, England win the second row battle against every team in the world. Lawes and Launchbury are unstoppable demi-gods. But they don't have a fully fit side, they have inexperienced players coming up against the seasoned AWJ and the bearded monster Jake Ball. Attwood has made a seamless transition into the English side over the past year, he has shown his form at Bath at an international level. George Kruis has just 4 caps, and is going to in find this a difficult contest to prove himself in, but I believe he can do it. The line out has been crucial to England over the past couple of years and these guys are superb in that respect and I feel even though they lack the experience that the cultured master Alun Wyn Jones has, they are going to show that the new, athletic English second row culture is a winning one.

Verdict: England



Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton & Taulupe Faletau vs James Haskell, Chris Robshaw & Billy Vunipola

Work horse vs work horse. Captain vs captain. Wrecking ball vs wrecking ball. This is a huge match up, even without Ben Morgan who would be preferable to Vunipola. Warburton and Robshaw often come under the same criticism, that there are better replacements (Tipuric & Wood/Haskell/Croft) but it is the leadership that keeps them in the team. The stats say differently however, and both will need to have their usual big games in order for their country to edge the game. I think there is nothing to separate them, and the same goes for Faletau and Vunipola. Where we do see a difference, however slight, is Haskell against Lydiate, and it is the returning James Haskell that gives England the advantage. His superior ball carrying game, outrageous work rate in terms of tackles and his sensational number of turnovers make him the danger man in the game against the Welsh.When Haskell steps onto that pitch on Friday and recreates his Premiership form, England will emerge as the victors.


Verdict: England




Wales vs England

So, to sum it up, we think England will win by 8. The game will be won in the pack, although George Ford will need to be on form from the tee in order to consolidate the pressure England will exert here. The one dimensional physicality of the Welsh can be dangerous, and it may be a tough day for Jonathan Joseph, even if Davies is nursing an injury. If England match the physicality of the Welsh then they will be the victors. If they don't, then it could be another long, tough, day at the Millenium Stadium. However, England's defence has improved lately, they have been incredibly tough to defeat as Ireland and Wales found out last year, and will show this grit and resolve on the pitch this Friday.

Who Will Win On Friday?