‘Our focus is on our own game, not on England’ – Welsh skipper Jones

ALUN WYN JONES says that Wales’ focus will be firmly on themselves rather than the opposition in today’s Autumn Nations Cup clash against England as they go into the Parc y Scarlets encounter with just one win from their last seven Tests, compared to England’s six-game winning run.

The English clinched the Six Nations title during that series of victories, and Eddie Jones’ team require just a point in Llanelli to reach the Nations Cup final.

“We are going to go about our business and have to focus on ourselves more than them,” said Wales skipper Jones, who makes a 22nd appearance against England this weekend. “We know the threat they pose and what they are going to bring, but you can’t focus too much on your opposition.”

Asked about the non-negotiables for an England Test, Jones added: “It’s pretty basic rugby things. Discipline, keep the ball and score more points than the opposition.

“Obviously, there is the added sideshow and circus of Wales-England, but we are in a different context of a competition.”

Wales have beaten England seven times from the last 10 attempts on home soil, but a gap of seven places in World Rugby’s current rankings – England are second, with Wales ninth – underlines how big a challenge Jones and company face.

“They have carried on in a similar vein to where they left off back in February and March,” Jones said.

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac hands a number of players huge chances this evening, such as 19-year-old Gloucester wing Louis Rees-Zammit, Scarlets centre Johnny Williams and Cardiff Blues flankers Shane Lewis-Hughes and James Botham. Between them, they have won just six caps, but Pivac is certain to learn more about his rising prospects ahead of the Six Nations.

Pivac said: “I think you are seeing opportunities now for these young guys, and it’s now up to them to take these opportunities.

Wales v England

Live, Premier Sports, 4.0

WALES – L Halfpenny; L Rees-Zammit, N Tompkins,

J Williams, J Adams; D Biggar, L Williams; Wyn Jones,

R Elias, S Lee; J Ball, A Wyn Jones; S Lewis-Hughes,

J Botham, T Faletau. Reps: E Dee, R Carre, T Francis,

W Rowlands, A Wainwright, R Webb, C Sheedy, O Watkin.

ENGLAND – E Daly; J Joseph, H Slade, O Farrell, J May;

G Ford, B Youngs; M Vunipola, J George, K Sinckler; M Itoje, J Launchbury; T Curry, S Underhill, B Vunipola. Reps: L Cowan-Dickie, E Genge, W Stuart, J Hill, B Earl, J Willis,

D Robson, A Watson.

REF – R Poite (Fra).