Key events
Gerard Meagher
England head coach Steve Borthwick knows the impact a Saracens core can have as seeks improvements on last week’s showing in Cardiff
Ronan O’Gara is not coaching either side today, but ICYMI here is his viral team talk that was doing the rounds this week
Robert Kitson
Dropped by Eddie Jones and at Worcester when they went under, Ollie Lawrence has made it into the England World Cup squad
The teams
England XV: Steward; Arundell, Marchant, Lawrence, Daly; Farrell (C), Van Poortvliet; Marler, George, Stuart, Itoje, Martin, Lawes, Earl, B Vunipola.
Replacements: Dan, Genge, Cole, Hill, Willis, Youngs, Ford, Malins.
Wales XV: L Williams; Adams, Roberts, Tompkins, Rogers; O Williams, T Williams; G Thomas, Lake (C), Francis, Beard, R Davies, Lydiate, Reffell, Plumtree.
Replacements: Parry, Mathias, Lewis, Tshiunza, Basham, Hardy, Biggar, K Williams.
Preamble
After Steve Borthwick’s inexperienced side were defeated 20-9 in Cardiff, this week against Wales the head coach has gone back to the tried and tested. Billy Vunipola, returning from a knee injury, returns having not played since April and will need the game time given he’s the only No 8 in England’s World Cup squad.
All in all, there are 11 changes, with Vunipola one of five Saracens in the starting XV. Captain Owen Farrell is back, as is Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Ben Earl and Elliot Daly, with Borthwick naming a team much closer to the one that will line up against Argentina in Marseille. If those players provide experience, then at the other end of the scale is Henry Arundell, who makes his first Twickenham start after being named ahead of Henry Slade in the squad travelling to France.
It is chalk and cheese approach for Warren Gatland and his Wales XV. From a team of familiar faces in Cardiff, the visitors make 15 changes and will be captained by hooker Dewi Lake for the first time, as Jac Morgan drops out of the 23.
Taine Plumtree, at number eight, gets his first start, with prop Kemsley Mathias and centre Keiran Williams are set to make their international debuts off the bench.
The contrasting selection, of course, means the teams go in with different objectives. For England, a morale-boosting win is very much the order of the day. For Wales, this is a chance to try out some new faces.
Framed in that way, this feels bigger for Borthwick. By his own admission England are short in the set piece, defence and attack. There is talent, but so far it is not clicking. That needs to addressed quickly if England are to do anything next month in France.
