England 8-14 Wales – Six Nations: Hosts reduce the gap to six points thanks to George Ford’s penalty in pulsating match at Twickenham

Wales can’t get to grips with the scrum and England have a penalty.

They sent the kick to touch. Big, big chance from the lineout.

Mail Sport’s Chris Foy at Twickenham…

England’s blitz defence has just been exposed again, just as it was by Italy in Rome last weekend.

They raced off the line aggressively but then Wales found space far too easily in the wider channels, forcing the hosts to desperately scramble to prevent another try against them.

Even if England go ahead here, their opponents will believe that openings can be found.

Wales almost battered down England’s door there!

They made use of the outside brilliantly, possibly for the first time this half, with Winnett breaking through beyond a stranded Daly.

Winnett then found Adams on the outside, but Wales knocked on.

A double change from Wales.

Elias and Griffin come on for Dee and Assiratti.

It’s a debut for the latter.

Genge and Cole are on for England.

Marler and Stuart were the men to make way.

That was very close to being a third try for Wales.

Lloyd found Dyer on the left with a crossfield kick and out of nowhere, he looked to be through before the ball rolled into the touch.

PENALTY! England opted for the conversion under the posts.

It was silly from Wales. Their players were offside from a kick behind their own try-line. That was so, so avoidable.

Ford, stepping up, added the three points. The gap is now at six.

Almost! England kept ticking through the phases.

The hosts sent it forward through hands and Daly looked to bear down on the line. He was barrelled into touch by Winnett, however.

Very early knock on from Wainwright. England have the scrum.

Scrum penalty to the hosts now. Wales are still having the same issues from the first half – they just don’t look steady in the scrum.

Lineout and Wales are now pinned back near their line.

We’re off again at Twickenham! No changes for either side.

Cue that infamous Christian Bale gif…

What a half for Wales. Barely a noise here as the half-time whistle goes.

The home crowd seem stunned by that second try for the visitors, but they have been the more industrious and clinical.

England started well and played with tempo but since their initial onslaught, they have been unable to build territorial pressure.

Tommy Reffell has been magnificent for Wales who deserve their lead.

That’s that for the first half at Twickenham.

England have it all to do. Not only did they pick up two yellow cards, but Wales have crossed twice. Their second try was special.

The hosts have struggled to use their territory.

Time for a breather. That was pretty wild!

That is absolutely outstanding. A true team try.

Reffell did brilliantly with a little step and offload, and Mann was released through to race away and throw himself over the line.

Lloyd then converted with ease.

Williams’ box kick came from Williams and Freeman collected.

Reffell snaffled up the loose ball and Wales came forward again.

Chessum has passed his HIA so will return very shortly.

England have a lineout as we enter the final five minutes.

After all that, Wales’ chance came and went after a knock on.

Daly cleared with a thunderous kick and Wales then sent it back, with Adams sending it out to touch. England stood firm brilliantly.

Wales are on phase 15 and counting as they push and probe.

Roots has now returned to the fray.

That was sloppy from Assiratti, who engaged in the scrum too early. England then kicked to touch for the Wales lineout.

They then cleverly worked the ball through hands before booting up field, with Dyer charging down in a valiant chase.

Chessum has only just come back on after his yellow card but he has now gone back off for a head injury assessment.

Coles is on in his place.

Mail Sport’s Chris Foy at Twickenham…

Interesting decision by referee James Doleman – who is showing a willingness to be decisive with big calls – for England’s conversion.

George Ford was infuriated when Welsh players were allowed to charge him and kick the ball away before he took the shot, but his slight lateral movement meant they were free to do so.

This really is some game.

Wales knocked on after a big one from Ford on Dyer.

My word! Ford twitches at the conversion and flubs his lines.

A slight movement brought forward several Wales defenders and that was all they needed, despite Ford’s protests.

That’s the chance gone. Wow.

It was a very disjointed line-up from England at the scrum but, even with Freeman at flanker, it didn’t matter one jot.

Earl took in a big carry from the base of the scrum and powered over the line, taking four Wales defenders with him.

That’s much better from England.

Itoje clattered into Lloyd brilliantly and all of a sudden, the hosts have an attacking scrum in a very promising position.

PENALTY TRY! England brought down Wales’ ferocious rolling maul deliberately. Roots has also been sent to the sin bin.

It’s all falling apart for the hosts in quite remarkable fashion.

Absolutely huge attacking lineout for Wales after they kicked to touch.

They’re just five metres away.

Is Chessum fortunate to avoid red?

The review from the bunker didn’t take long at all and his yellow card will remain just that, with the degree of danger not high.

It would have been harsh to upgrade that, perhaps. Chessum was low to the ground when making contact with Assiratti’s head.

Mail Sport’s Chris Foy at Twickenham…

It’s not Bazball, but it’s been entertaining so far as England have been true to their word by attacking wide as their first instinct.

No tries and no points yet but plenty of positive intent, including one exchange on the right as Tommy Freeman passed inside to George Ford and he transferred the ball back out to release Alex Mitchell.

Wales have shown flickers of the same ambition, with Rio Dyer trying to run the ball out of his own 22 moments ago.

So many Tests here at Twickenham in recent years have been horribly turgid but this has started brightly.

It’s a yellow card for Chessum.

He certainly looked to have driven his shoulder into Assiratti’s head.

There’s a TMO check here for a high blow from Chessum. Hmmm.

Initially, it took a while to get the appropriate angles on screen.

He could be in trouble here!

The scrum was reset but England continued to put the pressure on.

England squeezed their opponents into a maul from the lineout and then gained the turnover. Scrum.

A little loose in possession by England but they’re turning the screw.

Ford then sent a kick over, moving Wales just five metres from their own line for the defensive lineout.

Mail Sport’s Chris Foy at Twickenham…

All set at Twickenham. It’s certainly not intimidating but there was a decent buzz at kick-off. The anthems were sung with gusto and now the rivalry recommences – as ever, in front of a packed house.

PENALTY! Wales won a penalty just outside their own 22 for an England offside and sent it into touch.

A fast start from England. Steward looked to quickly bring the ball back from halfway and managed to find a route through.

England have got us underway!

Anyway, back we go to Twickenham.

It’s time for the national anthems!

Scotland will be absolutely furious – and perhaps rightly so.

It looked as though they had powered over for a try in the dying stages of their narrow defeat by France, but TMO intervened.

The ball looked to have been grounded but replays were ultimately inconclusive, meaning the referee’s no try decision was upheld.

We can now reveal that Paddy Power will refund losing bets.

Just another reminder, England have named an unchanged starting XV for this fixture – the first time they have done so since 2019.

In fact, the last game they resisted changes was the World Cup final.

Prop, and vice-captain, Ellis Genge has returned to the bench.

Other than that, it’s as you were!

Jamie George, who will lead England out at Twickenham for the first time this afternoon, is determined to make the ground ‘great again’.

Steve Borthwick’s side have won just two of their last six games at home and George has openly admitted the record makes for tough reading.

‘Our recent record at Twickenham has been poor and we have been very outspoken about how we want Twickenham to be great again,’ he said.

‘We have extended the walk from the bus and there have been changes in the changing room, which will hopefully make a difference.’

Steve Borthwick has challenged England to shake off the pressure of this heavyweight fixture and relish facing their old rivals today.

‘It’s the most special place to play rugby in the world,’ he said. ‘That’s the journey we want to start on Saturday. These are special days and sometimes you can lose just how special these days are.

‘I want them to have the time of their lives playing for England.

‘There will be some players that have played a lot of Tests there. How many more have they got? But there are some players I’m hoping are going to feel like Twickenham is their home for the next decade.

‘I want them to feel this is a brilliant place to be.

‘From my experience as a player and coach, watching these players pull on the white shirt and running out at Twickenham is something that has weighed on them. We have not seen the best of them.

‘This weekend they start a new journey. The intention is that when they pull on that white shirt they build the best versions of themselves – especially at Twickenham. We want that to lift them even more.’

The players arrived at Twickenham a short while ago and were met by a warm reception from fans outside the stadium.

Jamie George leads England through into the dressing rooms and ready for preparation.

England star Joe Marler, who is writing exclusively for Mail Sport throughout the tournament, admits he is buzzing for his ‘favourite match of the lot’ against Wales this afternoon.

Part of England’s preparation for the match was to lay off some steam, with Freddie Steward and Ollie Chessum taking on the roles of Ant and Dec to host an England’s Got Talent competition.

In his column, Marler said: ‘I’m fine with awkwardness but I just couldn’t watch some of it. Fraser Dingwall can go all the way down on his haunches and he caught an egg in his mouth without it breaking.’

Read more below on Mail+:

England legend and Mail Sport columnist SIR CLIVE WOODWARD has analysed where this afternoon’s game could be won and lost – and identified three important match-ups between the two camps.

George North’s return to the lineup will provide Wales’ back line with more pace and power and should provide an enthralling battle next to the technical game of opposite number Henry Slade.

But which other clashes could prove crucial. Read more from Mail Sport below:

Warren Gatland has made seven changes from the side that narrowly lost to Scotland last weekend, handing Wales a new-look XV to take on England this afternoon.

George North will return from injury to make his 50th Six Nations appearance, while fly-half Sam Costelow and scrum-half Tomos Williams come in.

Gatland has also put his faith in a new front row of Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee and Keiron Assiratti, with Alex Mann earning his first Wales start at flanker.

It’s the same starting XV for England today as Steve Borthwick opts to keep faith in those who got the job done against Italy.

Backs: Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Fraser Dingwall, Elliot Daly, George Ford, Alex Mitchell

Forwards: Joe Marler, Jamie George (C), Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Ethan Roots, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl

Upon confirming the team, Borthwich said: ‘It was pleasing and important to have started our Six Nations campaign in Rome with a victory. However, we know there are areas of our game to improve.

‘With a new player group and a number of new caps, we have tried to develop our game on both sides of the ball. Such changes take time, and I was pleased how quickly the players settled and adapted last weekend against Italy.’

Wales legend Dan Biggar sat down with England great Jonny Wilkinson this week to get the juices flowing ahead of such a huge match in the Six Nations.

The pair shared stories of their best England vs Wales memories and spoke out how each side approaches the heated meeting.

Wilkinson’s fired out a warning to Steve Borthwick’s men… underestimate Wales’ heart at your peril.

Read and watch Mail Sport’s full exclusive below:

One thing is for certain – there’ll be no love lost between the two sides this afternoon, who have long been the best of enemies in rugby.

Mail Sport’s rugby expert CHRIS FOY insists today’s match at Twickenham is crucial for both teams, who are each looking to rebuild and make a statement after inconsistent 2023s.

The home support will be vital for England and they’ll need to turn Twickenham into a cauldron.

Read Foy’s full preview of the match below: