Jeremy Guscott comment: Billy Vunipola must be at his best to halt charging cousin Taulupe  Faletau

It’s a shame we didn’t see more expression from the Welsh team but the win overrides that and momentum is all that will interest the players and coaches. From a Wales point of view the game went pretty much to plan apart from the lack of opportunities and tries.
Replacing ageing stars such as Gethin Jenkins and the now retired Adam Jones was going to be a big issue for Warren Gatland and one of the most pleasing aspects of Friday’s game for him would have been how well his two props went.
Loosehead Rob Evans has taken to international rugby like he’s always been made for it. He’s very impressive, compact and steady in the scrum and we saw glimpses of expression in his ball-carrying and, particularly, with his offloading, which were great signs for the future.
First and importantly, he’s got to do the job that aligns with his shirt number – and he’s doing that really well. With Samson Lee at tighthead – who is rough, rugged and has a twinkle in his eye – they have a good chance of set-piece parity.
He’s been a great find for Wales and I like him as a player. Add to that the immense Alun Wyn Jones, who doesn’t have a bad game for Wales any more, and a back-row that looked more effective with Dan Lydiate coming back for Justin Tipuric, and Wales have enough big game players to handle England’s pack.
The back-row switch will likely stick for the England game as Lydiate brought more balance to the back-row and his huge defencive shift allowed Taulupe Faletau to play with freedom. Faletau has, for a long time now, been world class and he proves that every time he goes on the field.
Critics may look at a couple of dropped balls and a penalty or two and forget all the good work he had done before – but some of the passing to him wasn’t accurate enough and he shouldn’t be blamed for a couple of those fumbles. He had another immense game.
The back-row battle will be explosive at Twickenham, in particular Faletau’s match-up against his cousin, Billy Vunipola, at the back of the scrum. For me, Faletau is ahead of Billy at the moment but when asked big questions of ‘how good are you?’ and ‘can you perform under pressure?’ Billy proves his quality.
We understand now he feels incredibly comfortable being coached by Eddie Jones and we are seeing the best rugby from him – yesterday’s display was immense against Ireland.
I remember Billy playing against New Zealand and he really stepped up and became a different animal when asked those questions and I think the same will happen against Wales. He knows that if a Lions team was picked today, Faletau would get the nod over him and he’ll be doing his best to make sure that selection is reversed after the game against Wales.
Wales are comfortable in what they do. They are very well organised unit – particularly in defence. There were periods in the game against France when a better organised attack, particularly a team with more experience, could have exerted more control and kept calm in those situations where the try was waiting to be scored.
In that period between 55 minutes and 65 minutes when France kept kicking for lineouts and re-setting scrums, they were unimaginative, lacked calm control and dynamism in their attacks. Captain Guilhem Guirado looked like a charging rhino every time he got the ball but none of the others had that same intensity or the know-how and Wales found it comfortable to defend against them.
Warren Gatland said before the game that if France played their unique blend of ‘joué, joué’ they would be easier to defend. I disagree slightly. I think it’s easier to defend a one-out runner and a pick-and-go stategy which France chose to do. If France had played with quick ball, showing off their flair with attacking ambition, the defence would become more disorganised and gaps appear.
That should be England’s intention: if England get themselves into the same situations France found themselves in in the second half, I would expect England to be able to pull the trigger, if not through the forwards then definitely through the backs.
England are comfortable catching and driving and I think they will keep it tight. However, that could suit the likes of Warburton and Lydiate who come into their own when snuffling attacks. England need the intensity Eddie Jones is talking about and if we are to believe him, that England have become 30 per cent fitter already in his short time as head coach, that fitness has really got to tell.
The bonus England have is their bench, particularly the forwards like Mako, Clifford and Jamie George. This is the next generation who are going to be first choice in no more than two season’s time. They are putting their hand up every time they play and the strength of England’s 23 will be needed to beat this experienced Wales side.
This Wales team remind me of when I was playing for England. You’re confident of winning most games you play without being arrogant because you are successful. These teams are so familiar with each other now that it’s nowhere near playing New Zealand and thinking ‘how are we going to stop this side?’.
You know how to stop most sides but knowing and doing are so far apart.
But when Wales look at England where are the dangers? Where are the challenges? Wales know if they can match England up front they have a great chance.
England’s midfield will be in for another barrage from Jamie Roberts – and Jonathan Davies is the threat outside the bludgeon of Roberts, who is now so good at holding onto those fizzing passes and taking it hard and fast on the gainline.
He will target the 10-12 channel, knowing George Ford isn’t the best tackler in the world. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jones opts to bring in Manu Tuilagi to play 12 and swaps Owen Farrell for Ford.
Jones is a pragmatist. He likes experience and he likes to play to his team’s strengths – and, against Wales, a good defensive choice makes sense.