“Full respect to England”, Roberts added.
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“They base their game on physicality and they’ve got a clearly understood playing style”.
“It was a massive game, so much to play for, so much on the line and unfortunately we didn’t turn up for those first 40 minutes”.
“They have regrouped under a new coaching team, and if you watch, they are playing with enjoyment and width on the game and putting teams under pressure”. The second row was stuck in heavy traffic when he received the ball from a ruck near Wales’ 10-metre line, but he bounced off Dan Biggar and left the hapless Baldwin floundering before feeding Mike Brown, and Anthony Watson had a free run to the line.
“We haven’t spoken about it once [the World Cup match] because it is irrelevant to this group of players”, Jones said.
Richards, a Grand Slam victor during his 48 tests for England between 1986 and 1996, said: “If ever there is a chance for England to win the Grand Slam it will be this year”.
Wales were as dominant in the final 20 minutes as England were the first 60, but having seen his team survive Dan Cole’s late yellow card as the visitors threatened a stunning recovery, Jones insisted they had come some way to redeeming themselves for their World Cup showing under his predecessor Stuart Lancaster.
Owen Farrell punished them with his unerring boot as he ended the game with 20 points and a 100% goalkicking record. For Jones his comparable experience was coaching the Wallabies against New Zealand and he turned to cricket for an explanation of what he expects from his side on Saturday.
“It’s not acceptable if there was a lack of energy or effort in that first half. You get better by practising at training and that’s what we’ll do, so we’ll get there”. Both teams will find it hard to breach the other in general play, meaning keeping discipline and taking penalty chances could swing the clash either side’s way. Robin McBryde, who oversees the Welsh forwards, highlighted the technique of Joe Marler, stating that the loosehead “definitely needs to scrummage legally, otherwise we’ll be pointing the finger ” “.
“We want to put on a real show next week”.
Who will win this match? It was a game of two halves.
“They’ve got some good Lions players, quality players”.
“Games have been played against Wales since 1881”.
“We prepared the same as we normally do”, he continued. At this level, it is just not acceptable as far as I am concerned and I am very disappointed. “My initial reaction was I didn’t think it looked great”. It’s a pretty big call to make if he wasn’t. “The best team won and I take my hat off to them”. They’ve been together for eight years and they know what they’re doing. England’s 16-0 interval advantage was improved by three points after the break when Farrell kicked his fourth penalty. We missed 19 tackles. “We can’t wait to get to Paris next week and do the business”. Tuilagi last played for England in June 2014 and although he has played just a handful of matches since his 15-month layoff with a groin problem, Jones has fast-tracked him back into the Test set-up. Wales welcome back Racing 92 lock Luke Charteris following his knee problems, while England have recalled Leicester Tigers centre Manu Tuilagi.
“I thought they were more desperate than we were and seemed to want it a bit more”.
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Wales captain Sam Warburton, who was carried off midway through the second-half, will follow return to play protocols after being concussed.
