Alun Wyn Jones warns England there will be 'no escape' from the partisan Wales crowd at the Principality Stadium
Wales have been the less outspoken of the two camps in the build-up to Saturday's showdown
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Wales were able to claim an early psychological victory over England on Thursday night, after ebullient coach Eddie Jones was forced to stand down from his claim that he didn’t care if the home side played with the roof closed on their stadium when the old enemies meet on Saturday.
Jones’ quasi-indifference to the partisan Welsh home support has been a characteristic of his psychological strategy during a week in which he said he did not even care if the Welsh supporters threw daffodils at his team. But with the closure of the roof certain to intensify a rabid Welsh atmosphere from which home captain Alun Wyn Jones warned on Thursday lunchtime there would be “no escape,” England's coach was forced to change his tune and ask that the roof be kept off and the sides play under the evening sky.
Wales coach Rob Howley had uncharacteristically turned the screw on Jones, replying when asked about the roof at his pre-match press conference: “It’s closed isn’t it?” he asked. “Eddie said he didn’t mind, so as far as I’m concerned it’s closed.”
Two hours’ drive to the east, at England’s Pennyhill Park base in Surrey, Jones was showing signs that he was preparing for a climb down, by displaying reluctance to answer any further questions about the roof, of which he said last Saturday evening: “The louder it is, the better it is. Are they closing [the roof]? We’ll toss a coin and see what happens.” Three hours later, England requested the roof remain off, complying with a 48-hour pre-match deadline to make their desire on the issue known.
Jones, who knew he had backed himself into a corner, said at his own press conference that it was low on his list of priorities. “Of course it will matter when I make the decision,” he said. “It’s not my decision to make whether it increases the atmosphere or not. I’m not an entertainer, I’m a coach, and I will make a decision when it’s appropriate.”
Wales have had less to say than the English contingent this week but the Welsh captain Jones made no pretence of the fact that Saturday was of huge significance to the nation.
“It means a lot to a lot of people,” the 31-year-old said. “It will be a small-minded to talk about bragging rights. We’re able to share that and hopefully share it in a positive manner. Fortunate to have a stadium that adds to the occasion but the rugby has to be the focus and hopefully we can do the occasion justice. Hopefully we’ve all got one thing in common, the pride of a nation. It’s up to us to show that on the pitch.”
Wales always prefer the roof shut, enhancing the atmosphere within the 72,500-seater stadium, and England’s record in Cardiff is actually better when the roof is open. They have won times when it has not been shut but just once when it has been.
The home side have continued injury fears heading into the match, despite having gambled on the fitness of George North by naming the injured winger in their team to face England. The 24-year-old was struggling to walk on Wednesday afternoon and with few back-up options in reserve, Howley has pencilled in North. He has also named Dan Biggar, who passed a fitness test after bruising his ribs during Sunday’s victory over Italy. But Howley will wait until Saturday to make decisions on the players and has spoken to Leicester head coach Aaron Mauger about taking Owen Williams as a last-minute replacement for Biggar, who played a huge part in the opening weekend win in Italy.
Props Tomas Francis and Rob Evans replace Samson Lee and Nicky Smith, with influential No 8 Toby Faletau and fly-half Sam Davies both named on the bench. Centres Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies continue their midfield partnership, with Howley not to returning to the ‘Warrenball’ gameplan centred around Jamie Roberts.
Jake Ball will continue alongside skipper Jones in the second row, with lock Luke Charteris failing a late fitness test on a fractured hand.
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