England v Wales in Six Nations: Jeremy Guscott & Jonathan Davies

March 11, 2016 EPL 0 Comments

Even in the context of a long and dramatic history between the two sides that stretches back to 1881, it was an encounter of epic proportions.
On Saturday, they meet at Twickenham again in the Six Nations, Wales confident and with a strengthened team, England desperate for revenge and looking to move within one win of a Grand Slam.
It's the perfect scenario - old enemies, childhood friends and a Triple Crown to boot - but who is going to win?
Let England legend Jeremy Guscott and Wales great Jonathan Davies guide you through the issues.

The very best of enemies

Davies: The battle of childhood friends Billy Vunipola and Taulupe Faletau - the latter even lived with the Vunipolas while at sixth form - is one to relish.
But who comes out on top in the battle of the two number eights will be dictated by which of them gets the most secure platform from their team-mates.
At the moment Wales' Faletau is the best number eight in world. He's a total all-round player, as shown by his incredible stats in this Six Nations.
Billy Vunipola is a different sort of player, a big ball carrier who causes huge problems for defences - he gives England attacking options and gets them on the front foot.
We will see more of what Vunipola does because it is eye-catching, but while he is the best number eight carrying in midfield, Faletau is the best number eight overall - he has a wider skillset.

Guscott: I'm sure no quarter will be given by either Vunipola or Faletau. They have grown up playing against, as well as alongside, each other. They will look forward to a good tear-up on the pitch and a good catch-up afterwards.
Faletau is much more athletic and uses his feet to evade defenders, whereas Vunipola will draw on his power and weight to help him dominate the contact.
The difference continues in how they play the game.
Vunipola is involved more in attack than defence - getting his hands on the ball more than any other player in the tournament with 58 carries.
Faletau is the opposite, racking up a competition-high of 51 tackles.
If Wales can stop Vunipola they will believe they go a long way to stopping England.
Blind-side flanker Dan Lydiate is likely to be given the responsibility. It is a decent-enough theory, but Dan will have to tidy up his tackling technique after being heavily penalised for failing to wrap his arms in recent games.