BIGG TROUBLE
Lawes warns his Saints team-mate Biggar he will be on warpath for fired-up England
COURTNEY LAWES has warned clubmate Dan Biggar he is on the warpath as England rejected Sir Ian Botham’s claim they are an unhappy camp.
Lawes has been tasked with upping the physicality on Saturday in Wales, where England must win to keep alive their Six Nations title hopes. Last night the Northampton forward spelled out his intention to “rattle” Welsh playmaker Biggar and ignite England’s tournament after a poor start.
“My game is based on physicality and bringing that edge to the team,” said Lawes (right). “I am always pretty sore after games as I try to make good hits – and plenty of them.
“Biggs is pretty tough to be fair, especially for a 10. But I caught him the last time w e played and he said he felt it, which I was kind of chuffed about.
“He is obviously a class player so if I can get some pressure on him I certainly will. I don’t think it will rattle him too much but I will try.”
England head to Cardiff with questions to answer following a no-show against Scotland and only a small improvement against Italy. Cricket legend ‘Beefy’ Botham (below top), whose grandson James is in the Wales squad, believes all may not be well in Eddie Jones’ side.
“I think England can be taken,” he told the BBC. “I think Wales can take them at this time because England don’t look a happy camp to me.”
Botham’s assertion was immediately challenged by England forwards coach Matt Proudfoot (right) who said: “Strange how someone can look inside the Lensbury bubble and know how happy we are. “What people mustn’t underestimate is that this is a competitive competition.” He added. “What you learn in defeats doesn’t make you unhappy. It doesn’t make for an unhappy camp. This is a camp where you learn.
“You learn to bring your best every moment of the day. I don’t think we’re an unhappy camp. I think we’re a very determined camp.”
That may be, but what England have lacked has been an edge and without one they are not going to get past the unbeaten Welsh. Lawes does not need telling, having played in England’s last six defeats to their arch rivals, four of them in Cardiff.
“Most teams target us, that’s something we’re used to,” he said. “But what springs to mind when I think of Wales is the competition. It’s always tough, always close and always a hell of a battle.” Proudfoot says Lawes will be key as he is a “hard man, a man who speaks with his actions”. George North is set to win his 100th Wales cap with scrum-half Kieran Hardy handed his first Six Nations start.