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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Shane Ireland & Will Freeman

When is England vs Wales today? Kick off-time, TV channel, team news and live stream

England host old rivals Wales in a mouthwatering Six Nations showdown at Twickenham on this afternoon.

Eddie Jones’ men play their first home game of this year’s Six Nations needing a victory to keep their championship hopes alive.

Wales can also ill-afford another defeat having also suffered defeat on the opening weekend like England, who suffered a 20-17 Calcutta Cup defeat to Scotland.

England won 33-0 in Rome last time out, scoring five tries in a comfortable victory that must be put into context as Italy's 34th consecutive Six Nations defeat - but nevertheless saw the visitors show the ruthless streak demanded by their head coach.

That followed a disappointing 20-17 defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield in the first game. Wales are without a victory at Twickenham for a decade but came from behind to beat Scotland 20-17 in round two in a boost to the team’s morale that had been shattered by the 29-7 hammering by Ireland back on February 5.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of the game:

When is England vs Wales?

England host Wales on Saturday, February 26 in a 4:45pm kick-off at Twickenham in their first home game of this year's Six Nations.

What TV channel is England vs Wales on and can I live stream the action?

ITV will show England vs Wales and coverage starts at 4pm. Viewers can live stream the match on the ITV Hub.

S4C will also have coverage in Wales, with streaming on the S4C Clic platform.

What is the team news?

Bristol's Harry Randall will start once more for England against Wales, in place of Ben Youngs, who could become England's all-time record appearance maker if he comes off the bench.

Jones has freshened up his starting XV with Courtney Lawes coming in for Nick Isiekwe to captain the side from blindside flanker.

But the hosts will now have to contend with the absence of Manu Tuilagi after the Sale centre was ruled out with a hamstring injury after having been named in the squad on Thursday.

Alex Dombrandt keeps his place at Number 8 after impressing against Italy, meaning that Sam Simmonds will start on the bench with Simmonds' Exeter teammate Jack Nowell starting on the wing.

Maro Itoje starts alongside Bath's Charlie Ewels in the second row with Tom Curry once again in at openside flanker while Jamie George, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Nick Isiekwe, Sam Simmonds, George Ford and Elliot Daly are on the bench.

England XV: Steward; Malins, Slade, TBC, Nowell; Smith, Randall; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Sinckler, Ewels, Itoje, Lawes (C), Curry, Dombrandt.

Replacements: George, Marler, Stuart, Isiekwe, Simmonds, Youngs, Ford, Daly.

Wales XV: L Williams; Cuthbert, Watkin, Tompkins, Adams; Biggar (C), T Williams; W Jones, Elias, Francis, Rowlands, Beard, Moriarty, Basham, Faletau.

Replacements: Lake, G Thomas, Brown, S Davies, Morgan, Hardy, Anscombe, J Davies.

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