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You can follow our man on the ground, Tom Hamilton (@tomESPNscrum), who'll be providing us with his insights straight from Twickenham. ESPN's preview can be read HERE.
STARTING XV's
ENGLAND: Brown, Watson, Joseph, Farrell, Nowell, Ford, Youngs; Marler, Hartley (captain), Cole, Itoje, Kruis, Robshaw, Haskell, B. Vunipola.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, M. Vunipola, Brookes, Launchbury, Clifford, Care, Tuilagi, Daly.
WALES: Williams, Cuthbert, Davies, Roberts, North, Biggar, G. Davies; Evans, Baldwin, Lee, B. Davies, Wyn Jones, Lydiate, Warburton (captain), Faletau.
Replacements: Owens, James, Francis, Charteris, Tipuric, Webb, Priestland, Anscombe.
Jones leads England into their toughest Test under his control, knowing victory will put them one win away from a first Grand Slam in 13 years.
Wales, meanwhile, know a third win in four visits to Twickenham would make them favourites for the championship. It promises to be an uncompromising encounter, not to be missed.
Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Six Nations clash between England and Wales!
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| 1 |
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We're underway here at Twickenham!
England have started well and are comfortably the side on the front foot. Nowell has a look down the right flank, but is swiftly slammed to the deck. First scrum of the game, just on the Wales 22. 10kg difference between the two packs.
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| 2 |
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Nearly an England try!
The TMO's required to check for a knock-on in the build up and after closer inspection, Williams' elbow is deemed to have knocked it rather than a player in a white shirt, so the try looks to stand. However, on the actual grounding of the ball, Youngs dives on top of the stray ball on the line but it's deemed a knock-on.
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| 4 |
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Wales still looking for a way out of their half with England holding firm. They're doing well to pin their opponents down.
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| 5 |
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| 6 |
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England battling hard still down their left flank, Watson looking threatening...
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| 7 |
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England having a lot of joy in the blinkside at the moment, they've spotted a weakness there. Really exciting play from England. No try to report on just yet.
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| 9 |
3 - 0 |
Penalty kick for Eng, and Farrell adds the first three.
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| 10 |
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Another soft penalty from Wales gifts Farrell the opportunity to kick for the lineout in the Welsh 22.
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| 11 |
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Driving maul works well, Wales struggled to hold their ground and England make some ground. However, they've just been penalised and Wales have the penalty.
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| 12 |
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Joseph bombarding down the right flank with the ball in hand, quickly nailed to the deck...
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| 14 |
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England still battling away hard here and their just under the Welsh sticks. Robshaw, Hartley, Vunipola carrying well. Try looming I feel...
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| 15 |
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Potential try for England, TMO needed...
Gareth Davies is committed and his best efforts have denied Dan Cole of the try. Personally, it looks a try to me, but I'm not part of the officiating team. Admittedly, the camera footage isn't particularly conclusive.
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| 16 |
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| 17 |
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Penalty to England now though as Wales are penalised for wheeling the scrum.
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| 18 |
6 - 0 |
Makes it!
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| 20 |
9 - 0 |
Wales have just conceded their fifth penalty of the game as Dan Lydiate fails to roll away. Farrell to kick.
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| 21 |
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Wales with ball in hand right now, as they look to escape their half and create an attacking movement of their own. All England so far.
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| 22 |
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England have stolen Wales lineout thanks to the hands of Maro Itoje.
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| 23 |
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Scrum now, as Biggar's penalised for a knock on. Not a lot going their way today, Wales.
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| 25 |
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England on the prowl again here. Farrell kicks into the corner and Wales are under the cosh again. Cuthbert has to kick clear.
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| 27 |
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Wales finding it very difficult to find a way out of their half. Cuthbert kicking long again, but Mike Browns on the receiving end and putting it straight back in their face. England on top, score is an accurate and fair representation of the game so far.
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| 28 |
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Scrum time! Wales to feed.
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| 29 |
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Brilliant line speed from England, putting the Welsh attack under pressure. Farrell punts long.
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| 30 |
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England have had 65% possession. 25% of the game has been played in Wales' 22.
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| 31 |
14 - 0 |
ENGLAND TRY!
They've done exactly what they've been threatening to do all game. Itoje carries well, offloads to Brown who then finds Watson on his shoulder down the left. Wales were stretched and just couldn't cope. Great play from England.
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| 32 |
16 - 0 |
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| 34 |
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Scrum in the centre of the pitch.
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| 35 |
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Great scrum from Wales who force the penalty. It's kicked for the corner and Gatland's side are going to try the driving maul move from 5m.
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| 36 |
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It hasn't worked as well as they would've liked as they're forced in field, but alteast Itoje didn't pick the ball in the air this time...
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| 37 |
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Better from Wales as they've bash-and-barged their way a few yards further forward...
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| 38 |
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Fantastic stuff from Itoje at the breakdown. Wales penalised for not releasing and England can kick long for some defensive restbite.
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| 39 |
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England just trying to close the half out, will be very happy with this.
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| 40 |
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Another high kick from Farrell can't be collected by Biggar in the air. He seems to be having an off game. Scrum now.
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| 40+1 |
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Scrum difficulties, but Wales have the penalty and Davies has taken it quickly. Try before half time, perhaps?
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| 40+2 |
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Nope! England penalty as Wales are penalised for tackling off feet. HALF TIME!
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| 40+3 |
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ESPN's Tom Hamilton had this to say straight from Twickenham.
"England are in complete control at the break and they have a new hero: Maro Itoje. The young second-row has had a remarkable 40 minutes where he has caused havoc in Wales' lineout, turned over ball and drew a key penalty in the 37th minute. He is belying his tender age of 21. England have one try on the board but it could easily have been three had Ben Youngs not knocked on while attempting to dot the ball down and Dan Cole managed to ground it near the sticks. The 16-point lead is not unsurmountable from a Wales perspective but they have been second best in every area of the game so far."
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Wales have had 19 missed tackles in that first half! Second half is moments away...
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| 40 |
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Here we go! We're off again! Wales need a monster of a half to turn this score around.
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| 41 |
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Great stuff from Mike Brown who escapes multiple Welsh tackles, opening the way for England to make some ground.
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| 42 |
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Nowell does the exact same! It's like slicing melting butter. Very easy for England to breeze through Wales' nearly non-existent defensive line.
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| 43 |
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Scrum time!
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| 44 |
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Wales finally get their hands on the ball, but can they manufacture something with it? Let's see...
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| 45 |
19 - 0 |
Nope! The only thing they've managed is to surrender and give away another penalty to England. Lee lethargic at the breakdown. Needs to be better if they're to have an chance of turning the tie on its head.
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| 46 |
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Wales have finally got something to cheer about. They've pushed well into the England 22 and have won the 5m penalty. They've gone with the scrum right under the sticks. Chance for a few points maybe. Much better from Gatland's side. Nicely worked down the blindside.
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| 47 |
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| 48 |
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Can't make much off the scrum, but they've got another in a similar position. Wales NEED to make this pay.
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| 49 |
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And another! This time five metres further right.
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| 52 |
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AND after all that, England have been awarded the penalty thanks for Ben Youngs strong defensive work! Too slow at the breakdown from Wales. Big call.
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| 53 |
19 - 5 |
WALES TRY!
Well, well, well...
England lineout just inside their half.
Thrown - TICK
Caught- TICK
Offloaded to teammate - TICK
Passed down the line to Ford - TICK...
Ford goes to kick, closed down by Biggar and he's onto it. Great from Dan Biggar. Just what Wales needed, just what England did not need. GAME ON.
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| 54 |
19 - 7 |
Biggar - conversion
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| 55 |
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| 57 |
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Wales lineout just along England 22.
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| 58 |
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North goes over for Wales but it's been brought back by Joubert! Correct decision though, knock on. Scrum now.
Even though the try won't stand, it's another sign that Wales are finding a way through now.
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| 59 |
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England 'comfortably' ahead, Wales come back and win. Anyone starting to get that de ja vu feeling? I certainly am.
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| 60 |
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Scrum time!
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| 62 |
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England asking Watson to clear via his boots. Wales continuing to pile on the pressure.
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| 63 |
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Davies copies Watson and kicks himself. We're stuck in a bit of a midfield battle here.
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| 64 |
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Tuilagi time!!
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| 65 |
22 - 7 |
England on the charge again, and they've just been given the penalty as Wales' No.6 Lydiate is penalised for not rolling away.
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| 66 |
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Farrell JUST makes it! 22-7.
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| 67 |
25 - 7 |
Wales penalised for not releasing again! Throwing away that slight glimmer of hope they with that try from a few minutes ago.
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| 68 |
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And Farrell makes that kick, too.
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| 69 |
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Wales have got to play with ball in hand now, they need tries on the board.
They've currently got just that, just inside the English half.
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| 70 |
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Strong ball carrying for Ken Owens, but it's not enough to break the English line. However, they've got a penalty after Jones' side are penalised just moments later for tackling off their feet.
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| 71 |
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Lineout from 5m and England are penalised for offside. Wales have another crack at a lineout.
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| 72 |
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Joubert blown again! Dan Cole has been shown the yellow card and is off -- cynical foul. Wales preparing another go at the lineout. Time is slowly but surely running out for Gatland's side...
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| 73 |
25 - 12 |
After a lot of deliberation, Joubert has reversed the penalty decision in favour of England. Why? Because Francis' fingers have been seen to touch Dan Cole's eyes. Only one camera angle, so footage is inconclusive, but the referee has said it will be looked at again after game game.
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| 74 |
25 - 14 |
WALES TRY!
The scrum explodes into action and Wales work it very well along the line to find George North. Great work in the build up to the try from Williams who offloads superbly.
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| 75 |
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Wales seem to be making that extra man pay. George North flying up the wing again and this is turning into a great finish by Gatland's side. They're pushing with real urgency and are in the England 22. Tense few minutes for Jones and co.
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| 76 |
25 - 19 |
WALES TRY!
World Cup de ja vu incoming...
Faletau. This is going to be a very tense last few minutes for England indeed. Danny Care is like tissue in water when hit by the bombarding Wales No.8.
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| 77 |
25 - 21 |
Priestland - conversion
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| 78 |
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Lineout for Wales just outside England's 22...
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| 79 |
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England holding firm just along their line...
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| 80 |
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Wales went for broke down North's channel but he's forced into touch. England lineout in England's 22...
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| 80+1 |
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IT'S DONE! FULL TIME
After a tense last few moments, it's over and England have the win. Jones' side survived the last 10 minute storm and Wales just turned up too late. Good game of rugby!
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| 80+2 |
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ESPN's Tom Hamilton had this to say straight from Twickenham:
"Just when England were cantering to a comfortable win over Wales, it looked like the most improbable of comebacks was a possibility as George North and Taulupe Faletau scored in the final 10 minutes of the game to turn a 18 point-lead into just four. Eventually there was sweet relief for England when Jack Nowell bundled North into touch but it was an alarming loss of tempo in the final throes of the match. But that can be analysed in the week and England will look to the positives of Maro Itoje's memorable performance while James Haskell was also superb. England will now go to Paris looking for their first Grand Slam since 2003. Twickenham dares to dream. "
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