Gates open for the second Test in the 2018 Under Armour Series at 2.20pm, with roads around the Stadium closing 35 mins earlier (1.45pm), and rugby fans have the very best incentive to ‘get in early’ and avoid the potential queues.
Principality Stadium will be showing England’s clash with New Zealand at Twickenham live, and for the duration, on its giant screens from 3.00pm.
Enhanced security measures remain in place at the ground, meaning fans who arrive in the last 90 minutes before the main event – when Wales look to end a 13-match Wallaby winning streak – risk delays at turnstiles and could potentially miss kick-off.
But the All Blacks could prove to be the answer to a Stadium conundrum, which has seen some supporters miss the exciting pre-match build-up and even some of the action in the past.
“We are hoping the England, New Zealand game will be a big draw and supporters will gather here and enjoy that game, comfortable in the knowledge that they aren’t going to miss a second of the main event and avoiding queues which gather nearer to kick-off in the process,” said Stadium manager Mark Williams.
“Everyone should know by now that we have enhanced security measures at the gates, which means full searches and no large bags or large umbrellas.
“We are expecting rain outside, but the roof is shut inside so we are also emphasising in particular the need to leave large umbrellas at home as they can be a safety hazard.
“It would be difficult to come up with a better curtain raiser for the Wales game if we had planned it, so we are asking supporters to aim to watch the England game on our big screens – if enough people do that we know everything will run smoothly thereafter.
“The risk is that if too many wait and watch that game elsewhere and then all try to come into the stadium at once, we are going to have large queues and the chances of missing kick-off vastly increases.”
A day of international rugby starts when Wales Women take on South Africa Women at Cardiff Arms Park – next door to Principality Stadium – at 11.30am.
Elsewhere in autumn series matches Italy face Georgia at 2pm, Scotland host Fiji at 2.30pm and the All Blacks visit Twickenham at 3pm.
With Principality Stadium gates opening at 2.30pm supporters arriving early will be able to settle in early to an action packed day and take in the whole of the 3-o-clock game on Stadium big screens.
By the time half-time arrives in Twickenham – approximately 3.40pm – the Australian and Welsh teams will be due to arrive in Cardiff, and they will be in their respective dressing rooms before the second half kicks-off at around 4pm.
Captains will gather in the Stadium underbelly for the official coin toss at 4.20pm and both Wales and the Wallabies will enter the field against the backdrop of the England v New Zealand second-half on the big screens, to begin warm-up activity from 4.25pm.
The Twickenham match will finish whilst both teams are out on the field, when supporters will have the choice of watching their heroes warm-up or taking in the final moments of the contest being played out over the river Severn.
Both teams will then be called back to their dressing rooms at 5.05pm, by then the result of the curtain raiser will be known, and pre-match remembrance tributes begin in earnest.
Referee Ben O’Keeffe will call both teams back out at 5.11pm when they will each line-up for anthems.
Wreaths will be laid on the touchline by respective captains Alun Wyn Jones and Michael Hooper and The Last Post will be played followed by two minutes’ silence.
Anthems are due to start at 5.15pm with the match kicking off at 5.20pm. Soon after 7pm – World Rugby stats suggest the game should finish at around 7.10pm – Wales will know if they have been able to put one over on their future 2019 Rugby World Cup group opponents.
Road closures around Cardiff city centre will be lifted approximately one hour after the final whistle and public food and beverage outlets will be closed at around 8.40pm, with the final hospitality suites and lounges finishing service between 9.30 and 10.30pm.
