Shane Williams column: Get smart, Wales, and you’ll win the big one

WalesIt doesn’t matter if you’re a new cap or a veteran international, facing England is the game that gets the blood of every Welshman pumping – I should say Welshman or woman because even my mother goes crazy at the television when we’re playing England.
I distinctly remember being in the living room and watching Ieuan Evans score that breakaway try in 1993 and she was doing cartwheels behind me.
Putting all joking aside, it is a special fixture. It used to be a case for Welsh fans that nothing else mattered as long we beat the English. Certainly that proved the case at last year’s World Cup.
But even though the fires burn inside, this is a week for cool heads and calm nerves because there’s not just national pride and bragging rights up for grabs.
Just as there was in 2013 in and that epic World Cup pool match last September, there’s plenty riding on this game. England are going for the Grand Slam and a huge slice of revenge, while can put themselves 80 minutes from the title.
I’m starting to like the look of this England side – I’m a fan of Eddie Jones and I know he doesn’t mind ruffling a few feathers and making a few changes. That’s exactly what England needed.
I was pretty disappointed with them against . They had a similar team to the World Cup and played in a similar style. But they have improved as the tournament goes on and Eddie has more time with them.
They blew hot and cold against . They switched off at times but when they hit their straps, they blew Italy off the park.
Then they were even more impressive against Ireland. They looked pretty comfortable all match in defence and had the ability to step up through the gears when they needed to get points on the board as Ireland looked to come back.
What is ominous from a Welsh point of view is that England are starting to look like the England of old and pretty strong up front.
Dan Cole is scrummaging really well and they have unearthed a few real athletes up front in George Kruis and , who has been a real find. Then they have Courtney Lawes on the bench and to come back.
That’s pretty impressive and another sign of the one thing England have above Wales, Scotland and Ireland – genuine strength in depth. I still wonder whether Wales would be the same if we lost Jamie Roberts or Alun Wyn Jones.
I’m not so sure.
England also have a scary array of options in midfield. Owen and Jonathan Joseph have done well yet they have Luther Burrell not even involved and Manu on his way back.
If I was England, I would like to see Tuilagi back involved. It would be pretty harsh on Farrell to lose his place because he offers another dimension as a second receiver for those exciting runners outside him. But Tuilagi would be a brilliant impact player to have on the bench.
The same goes for Wales with Rhys Webb. It would be tough on Gareth Davies to lose his place and Webb is probably not quite ready to start an international after just two games back for the Ospreys.
Davies, left, has been so exciting, one of the Welsh backs who has shown he can beat players, and his decision-making is only going to improve with more experience.
Having Webb breathing down his neck will only push him on again. Webb was Gatland’s first-choice scrum-half by some distance before his injury and really bosses his pack around so it will be good to have him to call upon from the bench. I wouldn’t make any changes to the starting Wales team but would spend the week sharpening up their attack.
The defence has been fantastic and the set-piece looks much more efficient, even from the World Cup, and Rob Evans has done a surprisingly good job. But we desperately want to see more with the ball in hand.
We are in danger of being one-dimensional and I know Rob Howley and Gatland are trying to evolve their game. But after so long playing a certain way, it appears to be taking time.
It’s going to be a tactical battle as much as physical so we have to box clever. We have the armoury to beat England if we’re smart enough.
What will give the Wales team a lot of confidence is knowing they can do a job at English rugby’s HQ.
I grew up in a time when we weren’t expected to beat England and four times I went to – and took some pastings – before finally breaking the duck in 2008.
But almost all of this Wales team have won big games at Twickenham and that will count for plenty.

Leave a Comment