CHEER WE GO
Skipper Alun Wyn and Gat laugh off Jones complaints and insist Patchell has all the bottle he needs but Halfpenny is a worry
EDDIE JONES’ attempt to destabilise Wales was met by laughter ahead of today’s Twickenham grudge match.
The England boss had tried to unsettle the Welsh by accusing their captain Alun Wyn Jones of referee intimidation – and questioning the “bottle” of rookie fly-half Rhys Patchell.
Having lit the blue touchpaper and retreated to a safe distance, Jones waited for an explosion. There was none.
Concern was reserved for fullback Leigh Halfpenny (circle), who missed training through illness – prompting the possibility of Patchell switching to 15 and Gareth Anscombe coming in at fly-half.
Jones’ jibes provoked a smile from opposite number Warren Gatland, while his skipper thanked the Australian for his concern and confirmed, with tongue in cheek, that in his future dealings with officials he would try to say “please” more.
“We’re grateful that Eddie flagged up with World Rugby the fact that you can be overzealous and sometimes appear to go outside the spirit of the game,” said the Lions lock, accused by Jones of having stopped the referee from allowing a kick at goal during last week’s win over Scotland. “You need to have that element of protection for the game and its officials and it’s important we get clarity.
“But World Rugby came back and said they saw nothing untoward. More importantly, referee Pascal Gauzere had no issue.
“So I’ll keep doing what I’m doing and keep within the spirit of the game.”
Back at the hotel where they stayed when sensationally winning at Twickenham to hasten England’s exit from their own 2015 World Cup, Wales were a picture of calm.
Questions about Patchell’s “bottle” were greeted with another grin from the skipper. “We were sponsored by a well-known brewery for a long time,” he said. “So there’s plenty of bottle.
“Look, playing away against England is a step up, no one would deny that. But Patch is ready for that.” Asked whether Jones had done his team talk for him, he added: ”No. Rhys and myself aren’t arrogant enough to assume anything said about us two individuals will motivate the 15. “As players that stuff goes on outside the tent. We’re inside the tent and we need to deal with what goes on inside the white lines.” Wales know they have their work cut out to avoid becoming England’s 24th victim in 25 Tests since that World Cup. The home team has won 13 in a row at Twickenham and will expect that run to continue today. But Wales have shocked them before and in the build-up have watched reruns of those wins – unlike England, who insist on living in the present. “For confidence we train hard, we prepare well and we trust each other to execute on the weekend,” said captain Dylan Hartley. “For us, process is key.”