9th November: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
There have been 110 matches between the nations since February 1881. England led the series until 1907, when Welsh rugby was enjoying its first Golden Era. After that, there were never more than two wins separating the sides until 1925. England then stayed in front until 1970 when Wales were embarking on another Golden Era.
The Welsh have led the series since 1971, but England's 13 wins in the past 15 encounters have now brought the nations level at 49 wins apiece. The last of the dozen draws was at Cardiff in 1983. Another England win would extend their winning streak against the Welsh to six and set a new record for an unbeaten run in this series.
Wales and England have only met twice previously outside the International Championship since that tournament started in the 1880s. These occasions were in 1987, when Wales won 16-3 in Brisbane in the quarter-final of the inaugural Rugby World Cup, and in August of this year when England won a World Cup warm-match in Cardiff.
England's 60-26 win at Twickenham in 1998 and Wales's 34-21 Cardiff win in 1967 - Keith Jarrett's famous debut match - are the highest scores recorded by the teams in this series. England did win, however, by seven goals, six tries and a dropped goal to nil at Blackheath in 1881, before scoring by points was introduced. The try-count of 13 stands as the series record for a match. The best winning margin (40 points) in the matches was established in England's 50-10 success at Twickenham in 2002. Wales won 25-0 in 1905.
Jonny Wilkinson set the record for the highest individual score in a match contributing 30 points at Twickenham in 2002. The Welsh record for a match is 22 points by Neil Jenkins at Wembley in the last ever Five Nations fixture, in 1999.
Three players have scored four tries in a match. George Burton, a forward, performed the feat for England in the Blackheath match in 1881. Wing three-quarter Willie Llewellyn crossed four times for Wales on his Test debut at Swansea in 1899 and Maurice Richards, also a wing, went over for Wales at Cardiff in 1969.
Wilkinson is the leading overall scorer in the matches. He has scored 97 points for England in five matches since 1999. Neil Jenkins holds the corresponding record for Wales with 65 in his ten appearances between 1991 and 2001. Will Greenwood needs one more score to become the leading try-getter in the series.
Recent England-Wales results:
1995 England 23-9 (Cardiff); 1996 England 21-15 (Twickenham); 1997 England 34-13 (Cardiff); 1998 England 60-26 (Twickenham); 1999 Wales 32-31 (Wembley); 2000 England 46-12 (Twickenham); 2001 England 44-15 (Cardiff); 2002 England 50-10 (Twickenham); 2003 England 26-9 (Cardiff); 2003 England 43-9 (Cardiff)
England's Test Record in 2002-2003
Opponents Date Venue Result
Uruguay 2nd November 2003 RWC Won 111-13
Samoa 26th October 2003 RWC Won 35-22
South Africa 18th October 2003 RWC Won 25-6
Georgia 12th October 2003 RWC Won 84-6
France 6th September 2003 H Won 45-14
France 30th August 2003 A Lost 16-17
Wales 23rd August 2003 A Won 43-9
Australia 21st June 2003 A Won 25-14
New Zealand 14th June 2003 A Won 15-13
Ireland 30th March 2003 A Won 42-6
Scotland 22nd March 2003 H Won 40-9
Italy 9th March 2003 H Won 40-5
Wales 22nd February 2003 A Won 26-9
France 15th February 2003 H Won 25-17
South Africa 23rd November 2002 H Won 53-3
Australia 16th November 2002 H Won 32-31
New Zealand 9th November 2002 H Won 31-28
Wales's Test Record in 2002-2003
Opponents Date Venue Result
New Zealand 2nd November 2003 RWC Lost 37-53
Italy 25th October 2003 RWC Won 27-15
Tonga 19th October 2003 RWC Won 27-20
Canada 12th October 2003 RWC Won 41-10
Scotland 30th August 2003 H Won 23-9
Romania 27th August 2003 H Won 54-8
England 23rd August 2003 H Lost 9-43
Ireland 16th August 2003 A Lost 12-35
New Zealand 21st June 2003 A Lost 3-55
Australia 14th June 2003 A Lost 10-30
France 29th March 2003 A Lost 5-33
Ireland 22nd March 2003 H Lost 24-25
Scotland 8th March 2003 A Lost 22-30
England 22nd February 2003 H Lost 9-26
Italy 15th February 2003 A Lost 22-30
New Zealand 23rd November 2002 H Lost 17-43
Canada 16th November 2002 H Won 32-21
Fiji 9th November 2002 H Won 58-14
Romania 1st November 2002 H Won 40-3