Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

During these times, you have to create your own atmosphere within your own mind and in the stadium.

Where is that butterfly going to come in your gut? You're not going to the lions' den of the Principality.

I watched the England warm-up and it was quite nervous. Whereas the Welsh warm-up was on point. It will be an interesting start.

Image source, Getty Images

The teams are out at Parc y Scarlets.

Flames, a smoke machine and a light show to welcome them on to the pitch.

Seems a bit much with no fans there.

Anyway, time for the anthems.

There will also be a moment's silence for two former internationals who died this week, Wales' Ray Prosser and Christophe Dominici of France.

Welsh rugby lost a towering figure this week when Pontypool coaching legend and former Wales and British and Irish Lions prop Ray Prosser died aged 93.

Prosser played 22 times for Wales between 1956 and 1961 and toured Australia and New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions in 1959.

He is often remembered more for his coaching of an extremely successful Pontypool side during the 1970s and 1980s.

Prosser helped create the legendary 'Pontypool Front Row', made up of Graham Price, Bobby Windsor and Charlie Faulkner, with the three players representing Wales on 19 occasions.

In this video for BBC Scrum V, broadcaster and ex-Wales captain Eddie Butler pays tribute to his former Pontypool coach.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales hooker Ken Owens is not playing today because he's injured - but the British and Irish Lion is at Parc a Scarlets working as a pundit for the Welsh-language S4C programme, Clwb Rygbi.

Asked about Welsh fans' worries that their team are going to get thrashed today, Owens gives a wry smile.

"I've seen those predictions," says the Scarlets captain.

"But the pressure if off the Welsh boys today."

Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

With the inexperience that Wales have with their new coaching set-up, it is going to take more than a couple of games for them to get into their stride.

Today is one of those hurdles where players will rise or fall. I am sure Wayne Pivac will have in the back of his mind: can they step up when it is really needed?

Wales do not necessarily need to win this game, they need a performance.

Image source, BBC Sport

Wales back Liam Williams copped a painful injury against Georgia last weekend, as a stray boot bust his lip open.

That means he's unavailable today - but he's been able to share his thoughts in his BBC Sport column.

Williams reveals his despair at missing the England game, how he has been struggling to eat with his lip injury and why Wales are relishing being written off.

You can read that column here.

Concerned there wasn't enough tension in the build-up for this match, what with it being played without a crowd and in a new and less important competition?

Well, British Airways has been doing its bit today, apologising after tweeting its support for England.

'English Airways' began trending after the British Airways tweeted: "Good luck to the England rugby team against Wales today." The tweet has now been deleted.

Wales' Health Minister Vaughan Gething commented: "Good way to annoy 3m+ potential customers".

BA said it had "unintentionally strayed offside" and was sorry.

Oops. Full story here.

Image source, Twitter

James Hook
Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

There is no atmosphere whatsoever.

But there are a lot of youngsters in the Wales team who have been waiting for this moment for a long, long time. Hopefully they can deliver today.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales centre Johnny Williams might have scored a try for England at Twickenham last year, but he now has his sights on the downfall of Eddie Jones' side.

Williams played for England in a non-cap match against Barbarians in June 2019 - today the 24-year-old lines up in the Wales midfield at Parc y Scarlets.

"It has always been a dream of mine," said Williams.

"These big games are the reason you want to make it to the top."

The full interview with the Scarlets player is here.

Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones relishes these occasions on the pitch. He lives for them, a true warrior.

Media commitments? He's not so fussed.

Jones says he and his Wales team-mates are aware of the "deficiencies" they must address against England - but he doesn't want to discuss their opponents too much.

Image source, Getty Images

It's the FA Cup second round this weekend, and England scrum-half Ben Youngs has been getting into the spirit with an all-time classic cup cliche.

Youngs says "form goes out the window" whenever England play Wales.

Wales will certainly hope so. You can read that interview with Youngs here.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales have lost eight and won three of their past 11 Tests against England but they have won the past two times they have hosted this fixture.

Wales will be aiming to win three in a row at home against England for the first time since 2005 to 2009.

For more stats, team news and views from both camps, you can read our match preview here.

Image source, Getty Images

Without the febrile atmosphere of the Principality Stadium, Wales go into this match hoping for, rather than believing in, victory, Mike Henson writes.

Mike has been looking at how the switch to an empty Parc y Scarlets might affect today's game.

You can read his scene-setter here.

This is the last round of group games in the Autumn Nations Cup before next weekend's final fixtures, so what's at stake for Wales and England?

Unbeaten England will finish top of Group A if they win, meaning they would compete for the title against the winner of Group B on 6 December.

France will emerge victorious in the other group if they beat Italy today.

Wales, who lost to Ireland before beating Georgia, are likely to face Italy next weekend, unless they thrash England, Italy win in Paris or Georgia beat Ireland.

Image source, BBC Sport

Eddie Jones just loves Wales-England weeks.

The England head coach has been relatively reserved by his spiky standards in the build-up to this match, complimenting Wales and saying they will relish being written off in the "heart and soul" of Welsh rugby in Llanelli.

But Jones has also warned his hosts that England will bring an intensity Wales have never faced before.

Image source, BBC Sport

You can always rely on Gwyn Jones to speak his mind, and the former Wales captain has been typically forthright with his opinions in the build-up to this match.

Speaking on BBC Scrum V, the ex-flanker said Wales are "miles behind" England at the moment.

It's hard to argue with that. Under coach Wayne Pivac, Wales have won twice and lost six games, while in the same period England have won the 2020 Six Nations and lost only once.

"I would take competitive now," Jones said of today's game.

"I think if we were able to put them under pressure or score a couple of tries, make them work hard for the win, I think we'd be more than happy with that."

You can read more of his views here.

Image source, Getty Images

Maro Itoje is a phenomenal player - and one of his England coaches reckons the lock could get even better.

Forwards coach Matt Proudfoot says the second row could be at the start of "five golden years" as he enters the prime of his career.

Itoje, 26, pressed his case as a possible captain for 2021's British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa with a superb display in victory over Ireland last weekend.

"Maro has incredible drive," Proudfoot told BBC Sport.

"I think he can become a lot better. I would say he probably has five golden years still ahead of him."

You can read the full interview here.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's a bit more on Lloyd Williams, the scrum-half who has come in from the cold to make his first Wales start for four years.

The 30-year-old Cardiff Blues player has earned praise for his recent appearances from the bench against Scotland and Ireland.

And now Williams gets the chance to win his 31st cap against England, against whom he has enjoyed some memorable successes in the past.

Who could forget his Lionel Messi-esque left-footed kick through to help Wales on their way to a sensational win at Twickenham in the 2015 World Cup?

I caught up with him earlier this week to discuss that magic moment and much more.

Image source, Getty Images

Fly-half George Ford returns to England's starting XV today.

Captain Owen Farrell switches to inside centre with Henry Slade making up the midfield.

The starting forward pack is unchanged from the 18-7 victory against Ireland.

Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, flanker Jack Willis and back Anthony Watson are named among the replacements.

Here's the England team:

England: Elliot Daly; Jonathan Joseph, Henry Slade, Owen Farrell, Jonny May; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Jonny Hill, Ben Earl, Jack Willis, Dan Robson, Anthony Watson.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Scrum-half Lloyd Williams will make his first Wales start for four years today, partnering Dan Biggar at half-back.

As Liam Williams misses out with a "nasty facial injury", Leigh Halfpenny returns at full-back.

Centre Johnny Williams and flanker James Botham keep their places in the team after making their debuts in the 18-0 victory against Georgia.

Wing Louis Rees-Zammit gets a second start, while captain Alun Wyn Jones is restored as one of eight personnel changes from the win over Georgia.

Here's the Wales team in full:

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Josh Adams, Nick Tompkins, Johnny Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit; Dan Biggar, Lloyd Williams; Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Shane Lewis-Hughes, James Botham, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Aaron Wainwright, Rhys Webb, Callum Sheedy, Owen Watkin.