Eddie opens up on wanting stadium roof to be closed

EDDIE Jones wants Wales to close the Principality Stadium roof for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up game... despite the weather forecast for Cardiff showing no sign of rain.

The England coach insisted the roof remained open for their Six Nations clash back in February - a game which Wales won 21-13 en-route to the Grand Slam.

But now the outspoken Australian wants to play Wales under a closed roof on the weekend, with England’s bid for World Cup glory very much in mind.

Their opening two Pool C games in Japan against Tonga and the USA will be played under a closed roof and Jones is now keen for the conditions they face in the Far East to be replicated in Cardiff.

Under Six Nations rules, both countries must agree on the stadium roof being closed as long as the visiting team inform Wales of their decision 24 hours before kick-off.

Wales prefer to have the roof closed to generate a more hostile atmosphere for visiting teams, but they were forced to keep it open by England just a matter of months ago.

Having seen Jones decide to keep the Cardiff pitch open to the elements back in February, it remains to be seen whether they play ball with his request for this weekend.

Even more so given the weather forecast for the Welsh capital on Saturday.

Wales coach Warren Gatland expressed his frustration that Wales couldn’t have the roof closed back in February but insisted: “It won’t bother us.

“The weather conditions are good. Whatever happens (with the roof) it will be a great atmosphere.

“It’s a bugbear of mine that we can’t decide in the Six Nations whether we can close the roof on our own stadium. It’s ironic that it’s our stadium and we can’t decide what we do with it.

“We should be able to make the decision. It’s out of our hands, though, and we have to abide by the rules.”