England vs Wales Preview & Prediction | 2026 Six Nations Championship | Round 1
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Two old rivals collide on the opening weekend of Six Nations action, with England very much the form team right now.
Start date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – Peacock
England form: 11-match winning streak
England enter the Six Nations in red-hot form having won their last 11 matches, including hugely impressive victories against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina in November.
A 27-22 defeat to Ireland in last year's Six Nations was England's only blip in that tournament, but that was all it took for Steve Borthwick's side to finish second behind winners France.
Last five: WWWWW
Wales form: Another wooden spoon beckons?
It's been a turbulent time in Welsh rugby and this could be another difficult tournament for them, with Steve Tandy - who replaced Warren Gatland as head coach in July - very much in the middle of a rebuild.
Heavy losses to southern hemisphere powerhouses Argentina, New Zealand and particularly South Africa in November does not bode well for their Six Nations prospects, as they seek a first victory in the event since 2023.
Last five: WLWLL
England team news: Fin Smith, Tom Roebuck & Ollie Lawrence miss out
Squad: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Guy Pepper, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Alex Coles, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Jamie George (c), 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Maro Itoje, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Ben Spencer, 23 Marcus Smith
Wales team news: Rees-Zammit returns
Squad: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Eddie James, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Josh Macleod, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Nicky Smith
Replacements: 16 Liam Belcher, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Ben Carter, 20 Taine Plumtree, 21 Harri Deaves, 22 Kieran Hardy, 23 Mason Grady
England vs Wales prediction
With holders France having won their opener against Ireland on Thursday, England will want to make a statement here against their old rivals, and there has perhaps never been a bigger gulf in quality between the two nations.
While England come into this off the back of an 11-match winning streak, Wales have only beaten Japan in over two years of action.
The return of Louis Rees-Zammit from an ill-fated stint in the NFL can only be seen as a positive for the visitors, but he alone will not be able to change the direction of the tide.
There may be better days around the corner for Wales, but England are a vastly superior side and should be comfortable victors here. Wales haven't won on English soil for over a decade, and it is difficult to see that changing here.
England vs Wales tip: England to win with -28.5 handicap
