Live Commentary: England 29-18 Wales - as it happened

Good afternoon! It's around half an hour until kickoff at Twickenham, where England and Wales will both be hoping to keep their chances of a Six Nations win alive heading into the final week of this year's championship. Let's take a look at the team's for this afternoon's match...

ENGLAND STARTING XV: Brown, Nowell, Burrell, Twelvetrees, May, Farrell, Care, Marler, Hartley, Wilson, Launchbury, Lawes, Wood, Robshaw, Morgan

WALES STARTING XV: Halfpenny, Cuthbert, Davies, Roberts, North, Priestland, Webb, Jenkins, Hibbard, Adam Jones, Ball, Alun Wyn Jones, Lydiate, Warburton, Faletau

ENGLAND REPLACEMENTS: Youngs, Vunipola, Thomas, Attwood, Johnson, Dickson, Ford, Goode

WALES REPLACEMENTS: Owens, James, Rhodri Jones, Tipuric, Phillips, Biggar, Williams

England have been forced to make a change to the team that started against Ireland, as Ben Morgan comes in for the injured Billy Vunipola.

Jonathan Davies will make his first appearance for Wales since November, when he sustained a chest injury, while Alun Wyn Jones also returns, having missed the win over France with a foot infection. Warren Gatland's squad features 12 members of the British & Irish Lions side that won their series against Australia last summer.

As I mentioned in the introduction, Wales are on a three-match winning streak against England, but have not won on successive trips to Twickenham since the 1970s. This will be the 125th meeting between these two sides. Both have won 56 games previously, and drawn 12.

England will be hoping to avoid another heavy defeat to the Welsh side, following their 2013 30-3 loss at the Millennium Stadium, which cost them the chance of a Grand Slam and the title. A win this afternoon would also give the hosts their first Triple Crown since 2003.

Ahead of kickoff, England coach Stuart Lancaster told BBC Sport: "I'm sure Warren Gatland always has a trick up his sleeve, plus there's a style and a way Wales play. We know what's coming - we just have to stop it. The best team on the day wins in any game of rugby. The World Cup is a long way off, today is all about the here and now."

Meanwhile, Wales' Warren Gatland told reporters: "There's obviously a big build-up between now and the World Cup in terms of making Twickenham a fortress. We know it's going to be a tough game. They are a good side at the moment. They are well coached and they look as if they are playing with a lot of confidence."

It's a bright, sunny day at Twickenham, as you can see from this Vine of the England team arriving at the ground earlier this afternoon.

England arrive at Twickenham. The atmosphere is building... #ENGvWAL #CarryThemHome https://t.co/U0MXeTUP5q

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) March 9, 2014

The players are starting to make their way out ready for kickoff. As with all Six Nations matches, the anthems of both countries will be played before the game gets underway.

There are one or two pantomime boos as the Welsh side make their way out, there's an eruption of noise as the home team is led out by Chris Robshaw.

Almost set. Kick off is approaching. #ENGvWAL pic.twitter.com/tdYPl0rG9v — Welsh Rugby Union (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 9, 2014

KICKOFF! England get the game underway.

Mike Brown tries to run at the Welsh defence, but he's quickly halted by Alun Wyn Jones. The home side continue to try to force their way into Welsh territory, but a careless knock on gives the visitors an early scrum.

England wheel the scrum, giving the visitors a penalty. Priestland boots it downfield to give Wales the first lineout of the match. Warburton claims it from a long throw, but loses it, and it's picked up Brown. That's a good turnover for England.

England win a penalty just inside Wales' territory which Morgan takes quickly. Robshaw takes it just short of the try line, but he's well blocked by the Welsh back rows. However, England have a penalty because of an offside.

Danny Care decides to take the penalty quickly, and he completely catches Wales out, giving him an easy run from a couple of metres out for the opening try of the game.

Robshaw wins the ball deep in the home side's territory and gets it out wide to Courtney Lawes. However, he's penalise for not releasing after being tackles, giving Leigh Halfpenny a chance to get Wales on the board.

Well that will help settle the visitors down after a nervy start. As ever, it's a calm kick from the fullback to give Wales their first points of the match.

Wales have the ball again, and Priestland chips it forward for Faletau, but he knocks on, giving England their first scrum.

England manage to get the ball clear from the scrum, with Farrell kicking it out wide for Nowell, who is immediately forced into touch by a well-timed George North tackle, giving Wales a lineout. The visitors try the cross-field kick themselves, with Cuthbert managing to keep the ball in play.

Jonathan Davies manages to find a gap past Care and charges towards the England try line, before passing to North. The speedy winger has England players in his path so kicks it forward, but gives it too much for either himself or Lydiate to catch up with, wasting the chance for the visitors.

Courtney Lawes wins the ball from the lineout, but is quickly stopped by Warburton. Jonny May manages to keep the play alive and kicks it forward for England, but Halfpenny manages to recover it for Wales.

Courtney Lawes thinks he's through for a clear run to the tryline, but the referee Romain Poite of France has to call the play back as he got in the way as Wales tried to make the tackle.

England have the scrum following the referee's interference, and win a penalty for Hibbard standing up in the scrum, giving Farrell a chance to restore England's seven-point lead.

England have the ball deep in their own territory, but Farrell kicks it well, forcing Wales back into their own half with a lineout. Warburton collects it from the throw in before Priestland kicks it deep, and May takes it cleanly.

May runs well from well inside English territory before being stopped by a Davies tackle near the half-way line, but he gives away a penalty, so Halfpenny will kick again.

England win a lineout in Wales' half and go long, with Robshaw taking the catch before handing it to Lawes. Morgan and Twelvetrees both keep the ball moving for the hosts, but Wales make sure that their progress is slow.

Poite calls Warburton over after penalising Rhys Webb for the second time for not rolling away quick enough. The mistakes have been pretty costly for the visitors so far, and now Farrell has a chance to add another three points.

Wales have a lineout just inside English territory, which Jake Ball claims and sets Jamie Roberts on a charge downfield, but he can't avoid a solid tackle from Wood, which allows England to clear the danger. Wales are starting to look a little more threatening on the run now.

After a frantic spell where possession changed hands numerous times in just a couple of minutes, Jenkins manages to win a penalty for the vistitors, so Halfpenny will go for the posts again, with his longest attempt so far today.

A George North knock on gives the ball back to England, allowing Farrell to kick it deep, giving the visitors a lineout deep in their own territory, but England steal it, and have the ball in a dangerous position.

Luther Burrel's impressive Six Nations form continues as May and Care both try to find their way through for the second England try of the afternoon, but Burrell eventually gets the ball and powers his way through with ease.

This is starting to look like a commanding lead for the home side. Leigh Halfpenny has kicked fantastically for Wales so far, but his teammates need to pose more of a threat inside the England 22 if they're to get back in this match, as it all looks rather easy for England at the moment.

Halfpenny will have his fourth attempt at the posts after Dylan Hartley is penalised for having his feet of the ground while going if for the tackle.

It looks like both teams as ready for half time as they turn to a series of long kicks to the fullbacks rather than trying to pass the ball. A score for either side now would have a big impact on the match, potentially leaving Wales just a point behind, or putting England a long way ahead.

A knock on and an offside by Jonny May gives Wales a late penalty, so Halfpenny has a chance to cut the home side's lead to five right at the end of the opening 40 minutes.

Five superb penalties from Leigh Halfpenny keep Wales in the match at half time following a brilliant start by the hosts, which saw Danny Care score an early try, before Luther Burrell added a second shortly before the break.

Wales made countless errors in the opening half hour, but seemed to settle in the final five minutes. Warren Gatland will be hoping that he can talk his team into a more clinical second-half performance during this break.

Tackling has also been an issue for the visitors, as Danny Care has slipped through their fingers several times, including for the opening try. The England scrum-half was in fine form in the opening 40 minutes, showing plenty of pace, creativity and determination.

The players are starting to make their way back out for the second half. It should be another gripping 40 minutes with the scores so close.

KICKOFF! Wales get the second half underway.

George North wins the ball for Wales and makes a superb run down the wing, but his pass inside for Halfpenny drifts forward, giving England the scrum.

England have the penalty because of a binding errors by Gethin Jenkins, allowing Farrell to boot the ball down field. However, a poor throw in is easily stolen by Jenkins, and Wales are on the offensive again.

England win another penalty from a scrum and the referee calls Warburton over for a chat, telling the Welsh captain that he needs to improve the discipline in the scrum or Wales could end up with a player in the sin bin. In the meantime, Farrell will have a go at the posts.

Wales have a lineout, which is cleanly taking by Ball, before the visitors drive the ball towards the England try line. Roberts tries to move the ball closer but is met by Lawes, before a knock on gives England another scrum.

Wales make a fast break as Cuthbert wins it in a turnover, triggering a series of quick passes between Prietland, Faletau and Roberts, but the latter tries to chip to forward for North, who was dashing down the wing, but he couldn't get their in time.

Wales are certainly looking less dependent on the kicking game than they were in the first half, and are posing more of a threat, but a handling errors allows Mike Brown to charge down the other end for England. It looks like he may have a clear run to the try line, but a last-gasp challenge from Cuthbert does just enough to slow him before Adam Jones brings him down.

YELLOW CARD! Wales were warned that they needed to improve their discipline in the scrum, but they did not heed the warning, and Gethin Jenkins will spent the next 10 minutes in the sin bin.

England also have a penalty, as well as the next 10 minutes facing just 14 men. This is a good opportunity for the hosts to take the game, and the championship, away from Wales.

Wales immediately have a chance to reduce England's lead with a penalty of their own. Halfpenny is five from five today.

The mistakes are creeping back in for both sides now as England have another site of the posts, following another scrum mistake from Wales.

Wales have defended well to prevent England from scoring another try while Jenkins has been in the sin bin, but their discipline is really hampering them. However, the front row is due back on in the next couple of minutes.

England are pushing hard as they look to captalise on their numerical advantage in the final minute of Jenkins' absence with a lineout. Launchbury lurches towards the line, but he can't get through.

In fact, Jenkins won't return as Paul James takes his place for the final 17 minutes. Meanwhile, England are bringing on Mako Vunipola for Joe Marler.

James seems to have an immediate impact as Wales keep their scrum square and force a penalty from England, allowing Biggar to blast he ball down field for the lineout. The visitors are clearly looking for a strong finish.

England have been playing much more defensively in the last couple of minutes, looking to kick and keep possession rather than push to create a try-scoring opportunity. Wales need to score at least twice to take the lead, so they may have a big enough lead to sit back, but the hosts shouldn't get too complacent,

May gives away a penalty, allowing Biggar to kick it well down field to leave the visitors with a lineout in a strong position. Alun Wyn Jones collects it from the throw in, before Lydiate tries to power forward, but Vunipola forces a turnover.

Vunipola gets the ball out wide to Twelvetrees who sprints out from the back, but Wales manage to halt his progress at the half-way line. Cuthbert brings the ball out from the back, breaking off a tackle from Farrell before winning a penalty.

England make a host of changes, taking off some of their more tired looking players. Stuart Lancaster must be hoping that some fresh legs will give England enough to hold on.

Luther Burrell manages to intercept the ball and runs it all the way back down the wing for what he thinks is his second try of the match, but the referee calls for a review from the video ref.

NO TRY! Leigh Halfpenny has easily been Wales's best player today and has saved them again there with a well-timed late tackle on Burrell, just forcing his foot into touch short of the try line.

Mike Brown is on the attack again for England, and kicks the ball forward. However, he's tackles after the ball has left his boot, and the referee calls for a video replay to see whether or not he should award a penalty.

Poite calls Liam Williams over and informs him that the penalty has been taken against him, but there's no further action. England decide to go for the lineout rather than kicking out the posts. They can't get the ball over for another try, but it helps run the clock down. Wales have a scrum just five metres from their own try line.

England get the ball back from a Williams kick, with Vunipola and Morgan teaming up well in the centre of the pitch, but Tipuric manages to strip the ball away to give Wales hope of a late consolation try.

North and Tipuric launch another late Welsh attack, but the ball comes loose when Phillips mis-handles, and that should be all there's time for.

Wales's hopes of a third straight Six Nations title are over as England take what was a comfortable win in the end. Leigh Halfpenny kept the visitors in contention for much of the match with some impressive kicking, but Warren Gatland's men just couldn't pose enough of the threat when running the ball.

Stuart Lancaster may be disappointed not to see his side win by a greater margin, after the dominated the opening 35 minutes, but he'll be pleased with the way they shut Wales down in the second half. Although England's chances of winning the championship rest on the outcome of Ireland's match against France as much as their own against Italy in the final weekend, they'll be confident heading into their last match of the campaign.

Well that's all from this match, but stick around the read out match report, and join us next weekend for the final round of fixtures in this year's Six Nations. Until then, thanks for joining me this afternoon, goodbye.