News

Wales ready to welcome England after Jones’ ‘greatest-ever’ claim

Gatland has named Ken Owen and Alun Wyn Jones in his Guinness Six Nations squad Inpho
The build-up has has already begun for the massive match-up between England and Wales in Round Three of the Guinness Six Nations.

The build-up has has already begun for the massive match-up between England and Wales in Round Three of the Guinness Six Nations.

The only two unbeaten sides left in this year’s Championship go head to head in a fortnight’s time and England head coach Eddie Jones has fired the first salvo – describing their upcoming opponents as ‘the greatest Welsh side ever’.

Wales downed Italy on Saturday to make it two wins from two in the Guinness Six Nations and extend their overall winning run to 11 Tests on the spin – equalling a national record that has stood for over 100 years.

And Jones – who has never lost to Wales since taking charge of England – is itching to get to the Welsh capital with his table-topping side.

“We are playing the greatest Welsh side ever. That’s what we are hearing, we’ll take it at face value,” said Jones after his side put six tries past France on Sunday in Le Crunch.

“You’re playing against a tough, physical team,” added Jones. “They contest hard at the breakdown. You’ve got to earn every point against them.

“You know you’re playing against a Warren Gatland side. He’s been at the top of the tree in European rugby for the last 15 years, through his club and country and the Lions.

“We’re looking forward to going down there. It should be fun.”

But Principality Stadium holds no fear for Jones.

“I have never found it to be a fortress,” he added.  “You go there and it is a tough game, they are a good side, loud crowd – but it has never been a fortress to me.”

For their part, Wales have kept their response short and simple, releasing a single tweet in Welsh this morning saying: “We look forward to welcoming you to Cardiff.”