By K
March 15 2013

England take on Wales this Saturday at the Millennium Stadium - 5pm kick off.  They will be attempting to win their first Grand Slam in 10 years.   Wales of course will be looking to win the Tournament but Wales must beat England by seven points and hope England do not outscore them by two tries in order to take a second successive RBS 6 Nations title.  All spoils rests on this game, we wish England the very best of luck.  Come on England!

RBS Six Nations 2013

Pre Match Thoughts

Wales v England

Well this is it, the match perhaps we all thought it might come down to and it has!   This is the 'BIG ONE' make no mistake Wales will be roaring for the scalp of England especially after last week's performance against Italy.   ----  Course I put it down to all those Cardinals being in Rome, it had to be Divine intervention;)

Anyway back to the plot Err the match........  If I was to say I felt confident, I would be lying, I am as nervous as a kitten and I am not even sure I will be able to stand watching this match.   

England, on past performances should stand a good chance of winning.  They have beaten the 'All Blacks' in the autumn, the French, Scotland & Italy at home and Ireland Away in horrible conditions.   This Six Nations the weather has not been kind to any of the teams and it has been tough but England have come through, having lost to no team.  I still have that sickly feeling though and it won't go away.  

 All pictures Empics - Englands Tom Croft during a training session at Pennyhill Park Hotel, Bagshot. & Against Italy

There are two changes to the pack that started against Italy with Joe Marler replacing Mako Vunipola at loose-head prop and Tom Croft  starting at blindside flanker in place of James Haskell.

On paper the team looks good, yes I like the look of the team and I am relieved to see Ben Youngs and Owen Farrell back.  The hardest part to cope with for England I think will be playing at the Millennium Stadium, some of the players will not have been there before and the atmosphere will be very intimidating.  

England's Owen Farrell during a training session at Pennyhill Park Hotel, Bagshot & England's Ben Youngs

Regardless of who wins this match, I feel this year's tournament has been really lively and the best for a number of years.  

Some stats for us:   The Millennium Stadium hosts a grand slam match for the 5th time with all previous instances a fifth win being obtained by Wales in 2005, 2008 and 2012, and by Ireland in 2009.   Just two sides have ever won away from home to take a grand slam in the history of the RBS 6 Nations: England in Dublin in 2003 and Ireland in Cardiff four years ago. Wales of course have a chance to not only defend their title but also deprive England of a coveted grand slam.

My only other real worry would be the referee and his assistants.  Why do we get Steve Walsh for goodness sake & Joubert?.  That sickly feeling is welling up inside again. 

Oh well Good Luck to both teams... but 'Come on England' show them your metal and do the business for all fans. 

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Blues); Alex Cuthbert (Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Blues), George North (Scarlets); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Bayonne); Gethin Jenkins (capt, Toulon), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) Ian Evans (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Toby Faletau (Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Paul James (Bath), Scott Andrews (Blues), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Lloyd Williams (Blues), James Hook (Perpignan), Scott Williams (Scarlets).

England: A Goode (Saracens); C Ashton (Saracens), M Tuilagi (Leicester), B Barritt (Saracens), M Brown (Harlequins); O Farrell (Saracens), B Youngs (Leicester); J Marler (Harlequins), T Youngs (Leicester), D Cole (Leicester), J Launchbury (Wasps), G Parling (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), T Wood (Northampton).

Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Bath), M Vunipola (Saracens), C Lawes (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), D Care (Harlequins), T Flood (Leicester), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester).

Referee: Steve Walsh (ARU, 11th RBS 6 Nations game),

Assistants: Craig Joubert (SARU), Mathieu Raynal (FFR),

TMO: Marshall Kilgore (IRFU)