Two teams operating on different planes meet at the Principality Stadium this afternoon. England and Wales currently bookend the world’s top 10 but have very different expectations for this game. The visitors are seeking a “perfect game” as they build towards a home World Cup where victory is the only acceptable outcome. John Mitchell has shuffled his starting XV from the opening win over Italy, giving his whole squad a chance to impress. Wales, who will play in front of least 18,000 fans today, will aim to flourish in the spotlight, building on the narrow defeat to Scotland in the opening week. Still, a first victory over England since 2015 would be a seismic shock. With last year’s wooden spoon winners rebuilding under new head coach Sean Lynn, focus may be on the performance rather than the scoreboard for Wales. With Welsh rugby in something of an existential funk, the women’s side will be eager to avoid the kind of chastening defeat suffered by the men two weeks ago. England, on the other hand, are operating under exacting standards and unbeaten since the painful 2022 World Cup final defeat to New Zealand. Even in the 38-5 rout of Italy, there was a second-half drift that the team are keen to correct. It’s a big afternoon for women’s rugby in Wales; the hosts will hope it doesn’t become a long one.