By Kath 18/3/04
March 18 2004

England v Wales RBS Six Nations 20/3/04 Match Preview. Well here we go again, this time we have no record to uphold and the Rugby World Cup Champions 2003 have been beaten.

England v Wales 

Royal Bank of Scotland  - Six Nations Championship

  Saturday 20th March 2004 

Well here we go again, this time we have no record to uphold and the Rugby World Cup Champions 2003 have been beaten.  So as they say onwards and upwards!

I expect England to win on Saturday and that is not to put Wales down at all, Wales have improved vastly and if we remember gave England a huge fright in the quarter finals of the World Cup.   However, I expect England to win because the whole team and management now have many points to prove to the vast watching audience on Saturday.

Will Sir Clive and the coaching team get the team selection and tactics correct this time around?

Will Lawrence Dallaglio (Captain) lay the law down and assert his authority, if things start going pear shaped?

Will the players this time perform?

We have had a few changes from the last starting line up -  Balshaw, Borthwick, Worsley, out of the mix  - in comes Mike Tindall, Danny Grewcock and Chris Jones.  With Mike Tindall back,  Jason Robinson has moved back to full-back, while Josh Lewsey goes onto the wing.   We also see Mike Catt on the bench in place of Olly Barkley so a much more familiar feel to this selection.


With respect to Wales only two changes to the team which lost to France, they are both in the front row where both Duncan Jones and Robin McBride get recalls.  Wales lock Michael Owen is looking forward to this clash saying - "It's a challenge you can't be afraid of. It's one we have to relish. We are going to one of the best grounds in the world and facing some of the best players. It doesn't get much better than that."

England  Robinson (Sale Sharks); J Lewsey (Wasps), W Greenwood (Harlequins), M Tindall (Bath), B Cohen (Northampton); P Grayson (Northampton), M Dawson (Northampton); T Woodman (Gloucester), S Thompson (Northampton), P Vickery (Gloucester), D Grewcock (Bath), B Kay (Leicester), C Jones (Sale Sharks), R Hill (Saracens), L Dallaglio Captain (Wasps).

Replacements: M Regan (Leeds), J White (Leicester), S Borthwick (Bath), J Worsley (Wasps), A Gomarsall (Gloucester), M Catt (Bath), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester).

Wales: Thomas (Warriors), Williams (Blues), Taylor (Scarlets), Harris (Blues), Williams (Ospreys), Jones (Scarlets), Cooper (Warriors), D Jones (Ospreys), McBride (Scarlets), Jenkins (Warriors), Cockbain (Warriors), Owen (Dragons), Thomas (Ospreys), Charvis (Tarbes, Captain), Jones (Scarlets).

Replacements: M Davies (Warriors), B Evans (Blues), G Llewellyn (Ospreys), M Williams (Blues), D Peel (Scarlets), C Sweeney (Warriors), T Shanklin (Blues)

Just time to sound my usual cry...............

The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge.......
'CRY GOD FOR HARRY ENGLAND AND ST. GEORGE '
Henry V (1599) Act3, Scene1

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