Wales v England, Rugby World Cup 2023 warm-up: When is it and how to watch on TV

England will take their preparations for the Rugby World Cup up a gear with four warm-up matches in August, the first of which is against Wales in Cardiff today.

Steve Borthwick will name his World Cup squad on Monday, so today’s match is the final audition.

The team for the Wales match was announced on Thursday, with Marcus Smith starting at fly-half. Smith’s Harlequins team-mate Danny Care is at scrum-half and Ellis Genge captains the side in the absence of Owen Farrell. 

The last time these two sides met, England edged to victory in a scrappy 20-10 clash in Cardiff in the Six Nations, in which Borthwick’s side finished a disappointing fourth.

England face Wales, in the first of four World Cup warm-up matches, today (Saturday August 5) at 5.30pm BST.

Wales will host Borthwick’s side at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. England can expect a cauldron-like atmosphere because the Welsh have opted to close the roof.

There are three more fixtures for England to hone their preparations for the World Cup.

• England vs Wales, Twickenham, Saturday, Aug 12, 5.30pm
• Ireland vs England, Aviva Stadium, Saturday, Aug 19, 5.30pm
• England vs Fiji, Twickenham, Saturday, Aug 26, 3.15pm

Today’s match will be broadcast on Amazon Prime (UK). The remainder of England’s World Cup warm-up fixtures will also be exclusively available in the UK through the streaming platform.

Amazon Prime Video membership starts at £5.99 a month. Alternatively, the streaming platform offers a free 30-day trial of its full £8.99 a month package, which comes with other benefits including free Amazon delivery. This can be cancelled at any time.

Warren Gatland sprung a surprise by naming his team early on Wednesday, and selecting Jac Morgan, 23, as captain and Sam Costelow, 22, at fly-half.

There are three new caps: the two Cardiff props Corey Domachowski and Keiron Assiratti, and Gloucester centre Max Llewellyn.

James Corrigan says Gatland is upholding a rich tradition of throwing tyros towards the deep end in Rugby World Cup build-ups and such boldness is just what Wales need after a turbulent year.

It will also be an emotional day for full-back Leigh Halfpenny, who will run out first in honour of his 100th Welsh cap.

Wales’s normal captain Ken Owens pulled out of their training squad due to a back problem, while Josh Mcleod and Will Davies-King withdrew due to shoulder and foot issues, respectively.

Wales team to play England
L Halfpenny (unattached); L Rees-Zammit (Gloucester), G North (Ospreys), M Llewellyn (Gloucester), R Dyer (Dragons); S Costelow (Scarlets), G Davies (Scarlets); C Domachowski (Cardiff), R Elias (Scarlets), K Assiratti (Cardiff); D Jenkins (Exeter), W Rowlands (Dragons); C Tshiunza (Exeter), J Morgan (Ospreys, capt), A Wainwright (Dragons).

Replacements: E Dee (Dragons), N Smith (Ospreys), H Thomas (Montpellier), B Carter (Dragons), T Plumtree (Scarlets), T Williams (Cardiff), D Biggar (Toulon), M Grady (Cardiff).