Wales vs England - BettingChoice Preview

The 2005 Six Nations is arguably the most open edition of the tournament since it gained the attributes of Italy in 1993, and the pick of the first week of games is in Cardiff between Wales and England.Two years ago England travelled to the Millennium Stadium with the core of the same team that would eventually win the World Cup eight months later. They went to take on a Welsh side at a low ebb of all time proportions, having just suffered the indignity of a 22-30 loss to Italy in Rome which was all they deserved.All the talk was of a 50 point hammering, especially as England had dismantled France in their previous encounter, a result that was supposed to make the ensuing Grand Slam nothing more than a formality.The results page will note that England did win that day, and indeed they did go on to take the Grand Slam, but what the 26-9 score line does not bear out is the closeness of the encounter.75,000 vociferous Welshman created an atmosphere they can only muster when the English come to town, and the pride at stake was evident in the face of every man in red that day. They largely controlled the first half, with Jonny Wilkinson keeping England in touch with his usually exceptional goal kicking.Somehow the English took a 9-6 lead to the half time dressing room, and a comparative lack of fitness allowed tries from will Greenwood and Joe Worsley after the break to create the elongated score line.Wales had genuinely tested Clive Woodward's men, and they have managed to do so in their two encounters since. They were in many ways the better side in the World Cup quarter final in which they scored three tries to one, and following the match up at Twickenham last year could count themselves as unlucky not to have taken more than a 21-31 loss back down the M4 with them.The problem that Wales have at the moment is a lack of a propensity to turn good displays into victories. As well as the three titanic encounters with England, they have come close to New Zealand in the World Cup and in the autumn (24-25), and within two points of South Africa (36-38), also in November. They are a good enough team to push the very best, but belief goes much of the way towards winning tight test matches, and this Welsh set up is yet to take this extra step.As such we are going to leave the 7/4 alone on the outright result, but a +6 point start on the handicaps looks worth taking at 10/11. Much has been made of England's current injuries (Andy Robinson has been forced to pick a team well removed from what would be the strongest in other circumstances), and only five of the men who started the World Cup Final will begin this one, Jason Robinson, Steve Thompson, Josh Lewsey, Ben Kay and Matt Dawson. Several of those absentees have retired of course, but this statistic does illustrate the size of the change being undertaken by England at present, and there will be two new caps in the centres, namely 18 year old Mathew Tait and Jamie Noon.Wales are not without their injuries, and Colin Charvis and Sonny Parker will be missed, although Martyn Williams and Tom Shanklin are experienced and proven replacements. There is more consistency in the Welsh team than the English of late, and the perceived gap between the two sides has narrowed massively in two years, to the point where we see it as barely existent, especially in Cardiff. Wales have much to be optimistic about, and can be guaranteed to give every ounce of effort in trying to beat their old enemies. It should be a wonderful spectacle in arguably the best rugby stadium in the world, and we feel the hosts will come within six points of what would be a famous victory.Claim your free bets on the rugby from Blue Square (ten pounds) and VCBet (fifty pounds)