Wales and England prepare for Cardiff Six Nations showdown

Excitement building ahead of big clash at the Principality Stadium

Author: Gavin Rutter / PAPublished 25th Feb 2023

Excitement is building ahead of Wales' clash with old rivals England in the Six Nations, the 139th meeting between the two sides.

75,000 fans are set to fill the Principality Stadium, with a pre-match performance from Katherine Jenkins on the bill.

When the players finally take to the field it will also end one of the most dramatic weeks in the sport's recent history.

Only an eleventh-hour agreement struck between players and the WRU on Wednesday evening averted a strike that would have seen the fixture called off.

Speaking ahead of the game Wales head coach Warren Gatland said: "I think it has been challenging for everyone.

"When players are having meetings and it's only them involved and you're not quite sure of their demands which are being made, everything comes to a head.

"I think at the end of it they are pretty happy with the outcome and what is going to happen moving forwards.

"There are still players who would have wanted the 60-cap rule to have gone away completely, but it is like anything with any negotiation, there is always some middle ground and some compromise."

Despite a difficult start to the Six Nations, no-one really knows what to expect from Warren Gatland's side.

Additional uncertainty has been created by the nine changes made to the side thumped at Murrayfield in round two.

Lions stars George North, Dan Biggar and Liam Williams are among those left out.

Gatland has selected 24 players to start in three Six Nations games this season, with his latest switches including a Test debut for 20-year-old Cardiff centre Mason Grady, Gloucester wing Louis Rees-Zammit returning from injury and Ospreys fly-half Owen Williams handed a first Wales start in the number 10 shirt.

Wales have won only three of their last 14 Tests and have been routed by Ireland and Scotland already in this Six Nations.

Meanwhile, Wales captain Ken Owens has said he never wants to experience a repeat of the off-field crisis that engulfed Welsh rugby this week.

He added: "The squad has been galvanised and come together, and I am sure you will see that on Saturday.

"It is a shame it got as far as it did, but what is done is done, what has gone has gone. We have made a stand, we have made people stand up and take notice and showed the strength we have as a playing group.

"And if we can move on now and concentrate on the rugby, the powers that be will get things done and the players will have their seat at the table and a voice and hopefully we will never end up in this situation again.

"They (Welsh public) gave us their support, and now we owe them a performance that Wales can be proud of on Saturday to repay their support for us."

Kick-off at the Principality Stadium is at 4.45pm.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Greatest Hits Radio app.