Eddie Jones’ England rugby team have vowed to lift the mood of the country and make Wales pay for a claim of English ‘arrogance’.
Today’s Six Nations clash takes place against a backdrop of coronavirus and floods - and Wales legend Mike Phillips letting rip at England’s Twickenham crowd.
“There is something that winds you up about it,” Phillips wrote in his WalesOnline column. “There always seems to be a certain degree of arrogance about the crowd there.
“They have the money behind them, we're a smaller nation, they look down their noses at us and you just use that as motivation.”
Victory for England would keep alive their hopes of a third title in five years and Jamie George called on those supporters to roar them home.
George said: “The Welsh fans when you play in Cardiff make it petty hostile, so we're looking forward to welcoming them to Twickenham and want to make it as tough for them as we possibly can.
"We're preparing for a proper battle. I'd say it's the strongest rivalry historically. There's a different edge to it.”
England also want to raise spirits at a time of misery for many up and down the land.
Coach John Mitchell said: “It’s an opportunity for two or three hours for everyone to put aside their struggles and challenges and enjoy an outing.
“Twickenham is like a coliseum on a rugby day, there's no greater experience. Everyone has their tough times and challenges but sport is a great avenue for people to be able to connect with others.”
Twickenham will lay on hand sanitisers at the entrances and in the toilets. There will be advisory posters and extra medical staff around the stadium.
Wales have served notice that they intend taking the game to their arch rivals, with Nick Tompkins throwing down the gauntlet to clubmate George.
“He has been in contact this week to say he's going to annoy me a little bit,” said the hooker. “I'll annoy him back.”
Mitchell admits England are still stewing from last season's loss in Cardiff, saying: “That's one game that niggles away at your stomach and your head.”
They are likely to also be smarting from Public Health England calling them out on social media for the “unnecessary” measure of excluding Mako Vunipola as a precaution against coronavirus.
