A look at four classic Cardiff clashes as Wales meet old foes England again

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  • England and Wales meet for a second warm-up fixture ahead of the World Cup in Japan when they clash at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Saturday.

    Eddie Jones’ England took the bragging rights at Twickenham last weekend, with their convincing 33-19 victory ending both Wales’ 14-match unbeaten run and their hopes of replacing New Zealand as rugby union’s number one-ranked nation.

    Here, PA reviews the last four Cardiff encounters between Wales and England.

    Wales 21-13 England, 23 February 2019

    England’s Six Nations title and Grand Slam hopes were abruptly ended at the Principality Stadium despite Jones’ side leading at the break.

    Tom Curry’s first England try – the visitors’ only one of the fixture – helped guide his side into a 10-3 lead but a determined Wales came roaring back and powered to victory following late tries by lock Cory Hill and wing Josh Adams.

    They went on to win the Grand Slam themselves after wins over Scotland and Ireland.

    Josh Adams celebrates his game-clinching try against England with Liam Williams and Jonathan Davies.

    Josh Adams celebrates his game-clinching try against England with Liam Williams and Jonathan Davies.

    Wales 16-21 England, 11 February 2017

    Two years earlier, it was England’s turn to come from behind, trailing by five points at the interval before they snatched an unlikely Six Nations victory.

    Liam Williams cut through the England ranks to cancel out Ben Youngs’ earlier try and edge the hosts back in front but thanks to Owen Farrell’s impressive goalkicking, England still had a fighting chance and remained within touching distance.

    A critical error then gifted the visitors their golden opportunity to break Welsh hearts with less than five minutes remaining, as centre Jonathan Davies’ poor clearance saw Elliot Daly freed in space and he touched down in the corner.

    Wales 16-21 England, 6 February 2015

    It was the same scoreline in 2015, although this time it was a far less experienced and injury-ridden England that took the Six Nations spoils.

    Wales opened up a substantial early lead as Leigh Halfpenny’s second-minute penalty and Rhys Webb’s try only six minutes later left England shell-shocked, but Anthony Watson helped the visitors hit back by hauling Mike Brown’s grubber kick over the line to reduce the margin.

    Jonathan Joseph then bulldozed through two defenders in response to Dan Biggar’s drop-goal, and the comeback was completed when George Ford kicked a penalty before booting another from long range with time running out.

    Elliot Daly's late try punished Wales.

    Elliot Daly’s late try punished Wales.

    Wales 30-3 England, 16 March 2013

    One of Wales’ greatest triumphs over their neighbours, a winner-takes-all Six Nations contest will live long in the memory as Wales’ biggest margin of victory over England.

    Three Halfpenny penalties – to Farrell’s single strike – took Wales into a 9-3 lead at the break before the hosts ran away with things as a pair of second-half tries from wing Alex Cuthbert left England’s Grand Slam dream in tatters.

    Biggar’s drop goal and penalty put the icing on the cake for Wales, beating their previous best win against England of 25-0 and landing the title in spectacular fashion.

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