Howley’s really Scot it coming
FORMER Wales hooker Jonathan Humphreys won 35 caps and was a team-mate of current Welsh head coach Rob Howley at the 1999 World Cup. Humphreys gave his all for the Three Feathers but will put patriotism to one side at Murrayfield this afternoon as he looks to help Scotland down the country of his birth.
Scotland forwards coach Humphreys has told old pal Howley to be wary of a public backlash if Wales lose.
“The expectation to win is massive in Wales,” he said. “You’re always looking over your shoulder. It’s an intense environment.
“Until you play inside Wales and exist within Welsh rugby, you can’t really appreciate it. It’s great if you’re winning, but not so great if you’re not.
“Those are the things that can nag in the back of your mind towards the end of a game. If it’s tight, it’s the fact that if you don’t win you know what’s coming.”
Wales are favourites to make it 10 straight victories over Scotland.
In former captain Sam Warburton, Howley has a player who is determined to stay hungry. “I didn’t want to be captain,” said the man replaced as skipper by Alun Wyn Jones. “You need to have that fear of not being selected for the next game.”
In today’s later match, Johnny Sexton cannot wait to stand up to the French.
Ireland’s fly-half will return from calf trouble for the clash in Dublin and can expect to be targeted again.
Sexton was knocked unconscious in Ireland’s win in Paris in 2014 and suffered a nasty black eye when the Irish won in Dublin a year later.
But Ireland defence coach Andy Farrell Farrell said: “The No10 has responsibility to run the attack but the way Johnny shows such big commitment in defence as well, it speaks volumes of him.
“Johnny brings line speed and energy and he is certainly excited about getting back amongst it.”