Jones after revenge for costly Cardiff loss
EDDIE JONES admits England will be motivated by revenge when they face Wales in a Guinness Six Nations title clash they must win to remain in title contention.
Jones has made two changes for tomorrow’s Twickenham showdown after naming Anthony Watson on the right wing in place of Jonathan Joseph and covering for Sam Underhill’s head injury by picking Mark Wilson at openside.
A year ago England were powering towards the Grand Slam as they followed up emphatic victories over Ireland and France by building a 10-3 half-time lead in Cardiff that spiralled into a 21-13 defeat. Wales went on to be crowned champions and the setback at the Principality Stadium still rankles for England ahead of Wayne Pivac’s first visit to Twickenham since replacing Warren Gatland in November.
“You’ve got to remember they beat us last year so we owe them one,” head coach Jones said. “They’ve lost two games in a row. They’ve got a new coach and they’ll want to make a statement. Traditionally our games are very close so they’ll come with a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of energy.
“Their two veterans Ken Owens and Alun Wyn Jones will lead the way and they’ll be a tough team to beat. They pass the ball a little bit more under Wayne Pivac but there isn’t any great change at the moment.
“They’re a still a very good team. They were semi-finalists at the World Cup and to get that far you have to be a good team.”
Pivac, meanwhile, is confident “a big performance is coming” from his players thanks to an increase in training intensity.
“You’ve only got to listen to [Wales captain] Alun Wyn [Jones] during the week,” Pivac said. “The intensity is there in his voice and everything he’s done in training. He has led from the front.
“The level of intensity has noticeably gone up in training, certainly in the live stuff, and it has been no holds barred. No one has been holding back. That tells me a big performance is coming.
“Clearly, they [England] have got a great record there – one we respect and one which tells us we will have to be at the peak of our powers and play well to win.
“With my background coming from New Zealand, we look at England like the Welsh do. There is a healthy respect, but it’s a game we are looking forward to – me included.”
Pivac has made four changes from the side beaten by France, calling up wing Liam Williams, scrum-half Tomos Williams, prop Rob Evans and No.8 Josh Navidi.
England team to face Wales at Twickenham, tomorrow (16.45): E Daly (Saracens); A Watson (Bath), M Tuilagi (Leicester), O Farrell (Saracens, capt), J May (Leicester); G Ford (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester); J Marler (Harlequins), J George (Saracens), K Sinckler (Harlequins), M Itoje (Saracens), G Kruis (Saracens), C Lawes (Northampton), M Wilson (Sale), T Curry (Sale). Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), E Genge (Leicester), W Stuart (Bath), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Ewels (Bath), B Earl (Saracens), W Heinz (Gloucester), H Slade (Exeter). Wales: L Halfpenny (Scarlets); G North (Ospreys), N Tompkins (Saracens), H Parkes (Scarlets), L Williams (Scarlets); D Biggar (Northampton), T Williams (Cardiff Blues); R Evans (Scarlets), K Owens (Scarlets), D Lewis (Cardiff Blues), J Ball (Scarlets), A W Jones (Ospreys, capt), R Moriarty (Dragons), J Tipuric (Ospreys), J Navidi (Cardiff Blues). Replacements: R Elias (Scarlets), R Carre (Saracens), L Brown (Dragons), A Shingler (Scarlets), T Faletau (Bath), R Webb (Bath), J Evans (Cardiff Blues), J McNicholl (Scarlets).