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Wales Coach Neil Jenkins Keen To Put The Boot Into England Like It’s 1999

David ParsonsDavid Parsons11 March 2025
Wales Kicking Coach Neil Jenkins - Pic: Alamy

Wales Kicking Coach Neil Jenkins - Pic: Alamy

The old enemy are in town on Saturday, when England come to Cardiff to face a Wales team desprate to end their losing run.

Wales kicking coach Neil Jenkins reckons Jac Morgan's Wales side will need no extra motivation to face Maro Itoje's title chasing England team in Cardiff on Saturday.

"There's definitely no greater motivation for a Welsh side than playing against an England team going for something," said Jenkins, who famously landed the conversion to deny Sir Clive Woodward's 1999 England side a Grand Slam at Wembley.

"It's the game that everyone dreams of playing in as a young kid. I certainly did when I was growing.

"It's a massive game and that never changes - not just for us but for everyone. 

"We've been struggling of late in terms of results and England have won their three home games in this championship.  

"They are well coached and are full of quality players. They'll be looking forward to coming here because they've got something to play for. "But we've also got something to play for as well in trying to get that 'W'.

"There aren't many bigger games if any that us against England in Cardiff."

Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt will be forced to make a change to his line-up to tackle England on the final weekend of the Six Nations after wings Tom Rogers and Josh Adams were ruled out with injuries.

Sherratt stuck with the same starting XV for last weekend's 35-29 defeat against Scotland from his first game in charge against the Irish.

That was the first time since 2019, and in 66 games, that Wales had taken the field with the same side in consecutive matches.

READ MORE: Same Again For Wales As Matt Sherratt Builds Something From The Rubble

Now he has been forced into making at least one change as both Rogers and Adams have joined full back Liam Williams, injured in the opening game against France, on the sidelines.

Adams picked up a hamstring injury in the build up to the Ireland match, while Rogers fractured his thumb in the opening 10 minutes in Edinburgh and is set to undergo surgery.

With Sherratt resisting the chance to call in an extra player it mean's Gloucester flyer Josh Hathaway is next in line.

READ MORE: Wales Find Their Glass One Quarter Full, But Only After Scotland Have Had Their Fill

The 21-year-old Aberystwyth-born wing made his Six Nations bow as a replacement in the defeat in Italy and could now make his first start in the tournament against the country he represented at U20 level in 2023.

Sherratt's other options are to keep Saturday's replacement for Rogers, Joe Roberts, on the wing, or move  centre Max Llewellyn out onto the wing and bring Roberts, Nick Tompkins or Eddie James into the midfield.

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