The Rugby World Cup is just weeks away, and teams have only days left to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming tournament in France.
Hosts France are back in action on Saturday as they host Scotland before they complete their preparations with a clash against Fiji next week.
Wales recorded a vital 20-9 victory over England last week, and they will hope to follow that up when they travel to Twickenham on Saturday afternoon.
- England to win by 10 points
- France to win by 17.5 points
Borthwick Goes For Experience
England boss Steve Borthwick watched his side dominate for large spells against Wales last week, only to fall to a 20-9 defeat at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
The Red Rose led 9-6 at the break, but Wales converted their two opportunities to score in the second half.
Borthwick and Wales coach Warren Gatland will both have taken plenty of positives ahead of the second meeting, and while Gatland has made 15 changes to his team, Borthwick has made 11.
Fly-half Owen Farrell returns to captain the side, and he will be partnered in the halves by Jack van Poortvliet. Maro Itoje, Jamie George, Joe Marler and Billy Vunipola also return to the fold, and they will play a crucial role in trying to get England over the line.
Hooker Dewi Lake will captain Gatland's side, while Taine Plumtree will get his first start at number eight.
England haven’t lost to Wales on home soil since 2015, a run of six successive defeats for Wales, and playing in front of a Twickenham crowd should provide them with a major boost.
England vs Wales Teams
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Henry Arundell, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George, 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Jonny Hill, 20 Jack Willis, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 George Ford, 23 Max Malins
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Tom Rogers, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Keiran Williams
Dupont returns for the French
France To Lay Down A Marker
Scotland beat a young France side 25-21 at Murrayfield last week, coming from 18 points in arrears with only 14 players.
France led 21-3 at the interval, but Scotland found a way to respond, even though prop Zander Fagerson saw red.
He will probably miss some of the World Cup, while Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend also lost scrum-half Ben White to an ankle injury.
With White playing no part this weekend, he is set to be replaced by Ali Price. Captain Jamie Ritchie returns as one of six changes, while WP Nel should come in for Fagerson.
Scotland's team will have a more familiar feel, but France are back to full strength themselves. Coach Fabien Galthie has made 13 changes to his side - only Paul Boudehent and Cameron Woki retain their places.
France are considered one of the favourites to win the World Cup this autumn, and they should be able to secure a formidable win in front of their own supporters.
France vs Scotland Teams
France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Gabin Villiere, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Paul Boudehent, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Uini Atonio, 19 Florian Verhaeghe, 20 Bastien Chalureau, 21 Sekou Macalou, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Louis Bielle-Biarrey
Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Jamie Ritchie (c), 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Richie Gray, 3 WP Nel, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Sam Skinner, 21 Josh Bayliss, 22 George Horne, 23 Ollie Smith
