England out to banish Welsh ghosts in 6 Nations
LONDON (AP) — As the fireworks petered out and Wales moved its victory party from Millennium Stadium outside into the Cardiff streets, Chris Robshaw made his hurting England teammates stay on the field and urged them not to forget.
Not to forget the scoreline, 30-3, their worst against Wales.
Not to forget the Welsh crowd's mocking chants of "Easy, easy."
Not to forget the scorching intensity Wales brought, and which England couldn't live with after halftime.
A year on, those bitter memories have been dredged up with the Six Nations title on the line again between the sides. The title won't be won on Sunday at Twickenham, but only the winner will play for it in next week's last round.
Since Stuart Lancaster took over in 2012, England has been all about banking experience and lessons, no longer accepting moral victories, and always with an eye on winning their home World Cup next year. But while they have beaten the All Blacks and Wallabies, unlike Wales, they have had to bow to the Welsh as the kings of Europe.
Lancaster regarded toppling unbeaten Ireland 13-10 at Twickenham two weeks ago as England's best result yet, given the context.
The Welsh, though, represent a higher level. They are gunning for an unprecedented third straight outright title. They have their confidence back after dispatching France 27-6, won their last match at Twickenham when Leigh Halfpenny made a last-gasp try-saving tackle on David Strettle, and start 11 survivors from last year's champions thanks to the return from injuries of lock Alun-Wyn Jones and center Jonathan Davies.
They play better under pressure and again start slight underdogs on Sunday.
Lancaster wasn't fazed. It was time, he said, that his side made an even bigger statement than the Irish win.
"All the talking is fine but we have to deliver on the field," the coach said. "It's a big game, a tough game, but we think we're ready."
They weren't ready for it a year ago.
The English rode into Cardiff as the favorite. A Grand Slam beckoned. They could still win the title with a narrow loss. Robshaw was being touted as the British Lions captain. Counterpart Sam Warburton was relieved of the Wales captaincy during that Six Nations to focus on improving his form. Stand-in skipper Gethin Jenkins helped to destroy the England scrum, then raised the trophy.
Robshaw was the biggest casualty of the game. He didn't make the Lions. But, like England, he's grown up and improved.
"As forwards we talk about this all-court game, about mixing it up, and the backs have come on massively," Robshaw said. "They're scoring tries and creating things. The nine and 10 are putting us in the right place, bossing the team around. They've been outstanding."
Since the Wales horror show, England has fallen behind big in tests but rallied, notably against New Zealand and France in the last four months. They were ultimately trumped, but against Ireland they came back from 10-3 down and finally held on.
Of this England squad, 14 were involved in the Cardiff defeat.
"We have a harder edge than last year," lock Joe Launchbury warned. "Cardiff was a tough day for us all. The memory of what went wrong that day is still there."
They have not forgotten.
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Lineups:
England: Mike Brown, Jack Nowell, Luther Burrell, Billy Twelvetrees, Jonny May, Owen Farrell, Danny Care; Ben Morgan, Chris Robshaw (captain), Tom Wood, Courtney Lawes, Joe Launchbury, David Wilson, Dylan Hartley, Joe Marler. Reserves: Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Henry Thomas, Dave Attwood, Tom Johnson, Lee Dickson, George Ford, Alex Goode.
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North, Rhys Priestland, Rhys Webb; Taulupe Faletau, Sam Warburton (captain), Dan Lydiate, Alun-Wyn Jones, Jake Ball, Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Gethin Jenkins. Reserves: Ken Owens, Paul James, Rhodri Jones, Andrew Coombs, Justin Tipuric, Mike Phillips, Dan Biggar, Liam Williams.
