England vs Wales Live score and updates from Six Nations showdown at Twickenham

Good afternoon!

England play in front of a packed Twickenham in the Six Nations for the first time in just shy of two years today when they'll host titleholders Wales in a must-win meeting for both teams.

Both Eddie Jones ' side and today's guests have won once and lost once thus far in the competition, with England falling to Scotland in their opener while Wales were devastated 29-7 by Ireland.

England suffered a major setback after it was announced Manu Tuilagi won't feature at Twickenham, the centre forced back out of Jones' line-out due to a recurrence of the hamstring injury he'd just recovered from.

On the other side of the field, Wales will be without star winger Louis Rees-Zammit, with fit-again Josh Adams his replacement in the XV.

The visitors also received a boost in the shape of three-time British and Irish Lions tourist Taulupe Faletau, who is back from a seven-month spell on the sidelines and in a Wales XV for the first time since March 2021.

Although Wales have won three of the last six meetings between these teams, they haven't come away from Twickenham with a win since the pool stage of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

It's been a full decade since they last beat England on their own turf in the Six Nations.

England*: Freddie Steward; Max Malins, Henry Slade, Jack Nowell; Marcus Smith, Harry Randall; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Kyle Sinckler; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Courtney Lawes (capt), Tom Curry, Alex Dombrandt.

Replacements: Jamie George, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Nick Isiekwe, Sam Simmonds, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Elliot Daly.

*England will name a replacement for injured centre Manu Tuilagi prior to kick-off

Wales: Liam Williams, Alex Cuthbert, Owen Watkin, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar (capt), Tomos Williams; Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Ross Moriarty, Taine Basham, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Leon Brown, Seb Davies, Jac Morgan, Kieran Hardy, Gareth Anscombe, Jonathan Davies

One Curry and Lawes combo, please

England 9-0 Wales (30′ Smith Pen)

Wales almost survive Williams sin-bin period without conceding, but Smith makes up for that previous miss with a long-range penalty from another Welsh breakdown infringement.

More changes

Courtney Lawes—who is only just back from concussion—stays on despite taking a knock to the head, but Luke Cowan-Dickie isn'y at fortunate after suffering what appears to be a knee injury.

Jamie George comes on to replace the England hooker while Watkin is back on for Davies in the Welsh midfield.

Scrum resets on repeat..

Welsh setbacks mounting

As if Williams' yellow card wasn't enough change, Wales have also had to make two early changes here.

Tomas Francis is off for a HIA and is replaced by Leon Brown, while Jonathan Davies is on for Owen Watkin in the centre.

SIN BIN! (21′ Liam Williams)

England lock Charlie Ewels looks to have gone over the line, and a TMO review reveals Liam Williams played the ball on the floor to get the ball away.

England are presented the penalty, and Wales' No. 15 heads for a 10-minute cool-off…

A tense first quarter

Midway through the opening period and England are well and truly on top of things, ahead on the scoreboard and threatening to add to their total.

Harry Randall puts Liam Williams under immense pressure with a smart kick into the Welsh 22', and it seems a matter of when, not if England will compound Wales' woes.

Missed Smith penalty (15′)

Wales are yet to come up with any points of their own, though they'll be pleased to see Marcus Smith swing a third penalty attempt wide of the posts.

Prop battle bubbling

Much of this week's media warfare concerned the props, with Wales' Tomas Francis adamant he wouldn't be engaging with opposite man Ellis Genge.

There's also the case of Kyle Sinckler, who already looks eager to impress in his 50th England appearance, though it's the Welsh scrum gaining the early advantage, it seems.

Settled nerves

There's no doubt as to who's started second best in London, but Wales are coming into the match themselves and enjoy some territory inside England's half.

England 6-0 Wales (5′ Smith pen)

Another English penalty and three more points for Marcus Smith, who's been laser-eyed thus far.

Questionable tactics

Wales worrying early on

It's a shaky start as far as Wales are concerned, with the high ball in particular troubling the guests in these early minutes.

Eddie Jones will be pleased with what he's seeing at the breakdown too, with Taine Basham the latest to be pulled up for a penalty infringment..

England 3-0 Wales (3′ Smith Pen)

Wales are immediately under pressure inside their own half, and Jack Nowell is already looking busy off England's left flank.

The hosts set up inside the enemy half before Maro Itoje wins the penalty, and Marcus Smith makes no mistake with an early three-pointer.

KICK-OFF

And we're up and running at Twickenham as Marcus Smith gets us underway…and England are on the attack thanks to an instant Wales mistake

Moments away…

The teams have emerged from the tunnel and are out on the pitch with kick-off moments away…

Problems for Pivac?

The last time Twickenham held a capacity crowd in the Six Nations jsut so happened to be England's 33-30 win over Wales in March 2020.

Wayne Pivac's side came off second best on that occasion despite a valiant comeback effort, but can his injury-hit squad come out on top this time around?

Eddie Jones under pressure

England have won seven of their 10 meetings with Wales since Eddie Jones took charge of the team in late 2015, with those three defeats each taking place in Cardiff.

Twickenham has proved a fortress in this fixture under the Australian, but Wales tend to thrive with the underdog tag…

15 minutes to go!

A make-or-break moment in the campaigns of both England and Wales is almost upon us as Wayne Pivac looks to spring another Six Nations surprise.

His side were by no means fancied for the title when they won the whole thing (and just missed out on a Grand Slam) last year, but can they keep a glimmer of title hope alive at Twickenham?

Matt ‘Neutral’ Giteau

The Marcus Smith Show

So much attention has been paid to Manu Tuilagi's absence in the past 48 hours that it's felt like a reprieve for Marcus Smith, who's been a daily fixture in the headlines of late.

The Harlequins playmaker has crossed the whitewash in both of his Six Nations outings to date, but how will he perform when he gets his first taste of action against border rivals Wales?

The face-off

France stay perfect in Edinburgh

The full-time whistle goes at Murrayfield as Scotland limp to a 36-17 defeat against France, who remain on course for a first Six Nations title since 2010.

The Grand Slam is also within Les Bleus' grasp as they record another bonus-point win, with only the two teams in action at Twickenham today left to go on their schedule.

Anthems at the ready

One hour to go

Just 60 minutes until one of rugby's greatest rivalries resumes at Headquarters, with the odds seemingly stacked against Wales in pursuit of a first Six Nations win at Twickenham since 2012.

The return of one Taulupe Faletau certainly helps their plight, but will we witness the one-sided result many are anticipating in London—or can Wales surprise their doubters?

Daly in for Tuilagi

Daly—who started at outside centre in the first-round defeat to Scotland—picks up the No. 13 jersey, while Harlequins' Joe Marchant moves onto the bench.

Welcome!

There's seldom a Six Nations clash between these teams that isn't fraught with tension, but this year's clash has a particularly precarious feel to it given their identical records.

Wales' chances of retaining the Six Nations crown may seem over already, but a first Twickenham win in almost seven years could put Pivac's men back on track for the unlikeliest of defences.

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