Do you have bottle to beat us, Rhys?

IF Rhys Patchell banks a solid 10 hours tonight ahead of his first Six Nations away day, he is either the coolest cat in rugby or has been on the receiving end of a sleeping draught that would fell a rhino.

All No10s expect to be targeted on the pitch – it goes with the territory – but Wales’s novice fly-half was subjected to a calculated pre-match pummelling yesterday as Eddie Jones turned up the dial ahead of tomorrow’s collision.

Not content with questioning the integrity of Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones, the England coach trained his blowtorch on the Scarlets playmaker, who will be making only his second start in the pivotal role for his country.

Jones warned Patchell that after walking on air against Scotland last Saturday, it will feel like he is wearing lead boots at Twickenham.

“Wales played well last week and they are definitely confident and cocky but it will be different on Saturday in front of 82,000 people at Twickenham,” said Jones. “Those 82,000 have been great supporters for us in the past and will be great for us on Saturday.

“For young guys like Patchell playing in front of that crowd, with boys like Simmonds and Robshaw and Farrell running at him it will be one hell of an experience, so I hope he has the bottle.

“Every time Patchell gets the ball he’s going to see Jonathan Joseph’s head in his way. JJ’s a good-looking bloke but you don’t want that as you go to pass the ball. It is easy to play when the ball is on the front foot and going from side to side but this will be a proper Test match. We will see if he has the bottle to handle it.

“Patchell hasn’t played much Test rugby. He’s a young guy, he’s inexperienced and he’s their thirdchoice No10. Who’s Patchell going to look for? He hasn’t got a lot of experience inside or outside him. That’s a big task for him.

“I’d imagine that when Alun Wyn Jones and the guys go down for breakfast on Saturday morning, they’ll be looking at him thinking, ‘Can this kid handle the pressure today?’ It’s a big ask on him.” Jones’ barrage was reminiscent of the way Gatland went for Dylan Hartley seven years ago, questioning his temperament and ability to handle the Cardiff atmosphere.

The England captain had the last laugh on that occasion, silencing Gatland with a fine performance in a 26-19 win and Wales will be dearly hoping Patchell zips Jones with his response at Twickenham.

But the 24-year-old will be a marked man as Joseph, back at No13 after a job swap with Ben Te’o, confirmed. “As a fly-half you have to bring a lot of control and be very composed,” said Joseph, who has never lost against Wales.

“We’ll go after him – and other boys as well – and look to put a lot of pressure on the Welsh in defence.

“Wales are always very fired up to play us and we have to match that or go beyond it.

“It has got a lot of history and it’s just a great game to be involved in, whether home or away. It’s a great spectacle and it’s one that we are massively excited about.”

The Bath centre’s return, predicted by the Wales coach on Tuesday during a pre-match prodding session at Jones, which appeared to have found the target judging by the Australian’s spiky mood yesterday, is the one unenforced change to the England side who disposed of Italy 46-15.

Ben Youngs’ knee injury means Danny Care takes over at No9 and will break Matt Dawson’s record for the most appearances by an England scrum-half.

“He might get a go on Question of Sport now – he might be the next captain,” said Jones jokingly.

Care’s 79th cap will actually be only his 35th start but he will have an important role to play over the next four matches as England attempt to take a third successive title.

England’s new back-up scrumhalf Richard Wigglesworth, 34, will win his first cap for more than two years if he comes off the bench.