Welsh legend Jonathan Davies has followed Warren Gatland’s lead and has called for the men in red to intimidate England’s Dylan Hartley in Friday’s RBS 6 Nations opener.
Wales coach Gatland caused controversy last week when he publicly suggested that the Northampton Saints hooker was England’s weak link.
Hartley is known for his short fuse and former fly-half Davies has urged Gatland’s players to test his theory.
“When you play, whoever’s on the field and it’s the first line-out you’ve got to sledge [Hartley] and put pressure on him all the time,” Davies said.
“If he misses the first line-out you’ve got to have a word, get stuck into him.
“A bit of sledging is good for banter on the field, keeps you interested.
“There has been a spat. If you get a chance to put a shot [tackle] on him you just smash him and he’ll try and put a big hit in on one of the Welsh boys and it’ll lift the respective sides.”
