Key events
38 min: Some solid Wales defence, good tackle from Bethan Lewis but she also gets a hand on the ball. It’s an England scrum.
36 min: A sublime crossfield kick from Aitchison; Dow collects but cannot quite keep it in play. That would have been a very stylish try.
35 min: Botterman, England’s ace so far, steals the ball and it’s the hosts on the attack once again. Wales have had 56% of possession but they have not had that cutting edge.
33 min: It’s Groundhog Day for Wales! They’re so, so close to driving over the England tryline but once more, they cannot find a gap and England intercept and break through Aitchison.
31 min: A forward pass from Sian Jones to her namesake Hannah Jones. Now it’s England’s scrum – and they win a penalty after it collapses. Aitchison kicks.
29 min: Wales have scrum right in front of the England tryline. Can they make the most of this opportunity?
27 min: Wales’s long lineout is not currently working for them. They’ve lost four lineouts and that’s part of the reason why they don’t have the points on the board their possession has suggested they could have.
TRY! England 19-3 Wales
Hannah Botterman forces her way over the line for England’s third try. That’s been the difference between the two sides: Wales have been in great situations but unable to get over. Aitchison kicks the extras.
22 min: That was always the danger for Wales: England win it back and break at speed. They’re trying to drive over the Wales line …
21 min: Wales trying to bulldoze their way way through the England defence but a crucial steal by Hannah Botterman. Yet Wales win it back! They are camped inside the England 22.
19 min: Treatment for a blood injury gives Wales a chance to talk and regroup. Alex Callender wins the lineout and they are putting pressure on England at their tryline.
18 min: Wales have another lineout in England territory. They need to make the most of one of these, they had a strong start but obviously the last 10 minutes have been dominated by England.
TRY! England 12-3 Wales
England utilise their power from the lineout and force their way over – it’s Zoe Aldcroft who eventually dots it down! On her 50th cap as well. This time, Holly Aitchison makes no mistake with the conversion.
14 min: England have a penalty and they opt for a lineout deep in the Wales half. Packer is trying to force an opening and …
12 min: England seeking openings now in the Wales defence. A threat but the visitors handle it well and George kicks it out of play.
11 min: A Wales lineout comes down at an awkward angle and Sian Jones cannot gather it. That’s a bit messy and we have another scrum.
TRY! England 5-3 Wales
A magnificent run from Abby Dow, showing her pace and jinking skills. Wales eventually stop her but Maud Muir gets the try. The conversion hits the post. It’s just a two-point lead for the hosts.
6 min: Wales lead 3-0! Lleucu George kicks a penalty from in front of the posts. Deserved for their early pressure.
3 min: A Wales lineout deep in England territory. It’s stolen by England however there’s a knock-on by Tatyana Heard. A scrum. Positive start for Wales, this.
2 min: Composed start from Wales, they are passing the ball around nicely early on. England’s defence looks solid.
Wales kick-off! We are under way.
I’m no expert, but the Wales XV sang the anthem gloriously there. England maybe a little more sotto in their approach. Wales win the anthem-off. Is that the real quiz?
The players are walking on to the pitch to an impressive ovation. The sun is shining in Bristol, despite forecasts of rain! The anthems are coming up.
“A big test but one we’re looking forward to,” insists Wales coach Cunningham. He will certainly hope for a better display than against Italy and that Lleucu George isn’t too shaken by that late missed conversion. She’s a gifted fly-half and Wales need her at her best. Sian Jones, playing at just 19 years old, is also in a sink-or-swim situation.
England coach Mitchell is warning of a “disruptive” Wales display pre-match. He’s also discussing how Jame George came into the camp this week to help preparations.
He’s said he’d like greater linkup overall between the England men’s and women’s teams and Marlie Packer thought the crossover was of benefit. “The girls really enjoyed it,” the skipper said. “We don’t want to force it because the men have their own programmes, the same as us, so the timing needs to be right for both.”
Ashton Gate will contain 18,000+ supporters this afternoon – the Red Roses largest ever home crowd outside of Twickenham. It’s boosted by plenty of Wales fans coming over the bridge, of course. An ideal location, especially as this is one of the eight World Cup venues for 2025. A good dress rehearsal in Bristol.
News from Edinburgh: Scotland 5-15 France. Scotland’s seven-game winning streak is over, but they put up a real battle and led France 5-3 at half-time. Tries from Kelly Arbey and Émeline Gros helped France fightback to victory after Scotland hooker Elis Martin had nabbed a try on her first start.
Wales team
A huge blow for Wales is the absence of Jasmine Joyce, the wing ruled out by a hamstring strain. They will surely miss the Sale star’s quality and electric pace.
Lisa Neumann takes her spot and his some big and speedy boots to fill. Sian Jones is picked at scrum half, while Carys Cox is on the left wing. Donna Rose and Carys Phillips come into the front row; Georgia Evans and Kate Williams start in the pack.
A late change on the bench for Wales as well, Nel Metcafle unavailable through injury.
Wales XV: Hesketh; Neumann, Jones, Lake, Cox; George, Jones; Pyrs, Phillips, Rose, Fleming, Evans, Williams, Callender, Lewis.
Replacements: Reardon, Constable, Tuipulotu, John, Butchers, Bevan, Powell, Keight.
England team
No Emily Scarratt as she is rested, a planned absence as she’s being eased back after injury – but any side will miss a player of such excellence.
Abbie Ward also starts on the bench but the lock Zoe Aldcroft retains her place and wins her 50th cap for England. “Zoe is a massive competitor. She’s like a little springer spaniel in training! When she speaks, the girls listen,” praised the captain, Marlie Packer this week (to be fair, if a springer spaniel spoke, I would 100% listen). “Everyone knows she’s world class in everything she does and how she goes about her business.”
Packer also starts, winning her 101st cap, while Megan Jones and Tatyana Heard come in and form a new partnership in the centre.
England XV: Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach; Aitchison, Hunt; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Muir, Aldcroft, Galligan, Kabeya, Packer (capt), Matthews.
Replacements: Powell, Carson, Clifford, Ward, Feaunati, Packer, Harrison, Gregson.
Preamble
England welcome Wales to Ashton Gate with the visitors smarting after a narrow, home defeat by Scotland in their opener. They missed a late chance to at least level the scores, but did not start that match well and will now be aiming to get stuck into the team who’ve won the last five Six Nations.
The hosts this afternoon thrashed Italy 48-0 in their opener but it was not all as fluent as that scoreline suggests. There were first-half handling and that red card for Sarah Beckett which meant they played the vast majority of the game with 14 (and briefly 13) players.
Both sides have made seven changes to their starting lineups but John Mitchell, in his second game in charge of England, will still hope for a quicker, slicker display from the start. Ioan Cunningham will want his Wales team to show their power, exploit any issues in the England lineout and be a thorn in the Red Roses’ side.
It all kicks off at 4.45pm! Teams and updates will follow.
