Callum Sheedy says Wales knew England’s discipline would crack “if we could choke them enough” after he put the boot into Eddie Jones’ team. England conceded a damaging 14 penalties in their 40-24 Six Nations defeat at the Principality Stadium. They imploded during the final quarter when substitute Sheedy kicked three penalties in nine minutes during a 16-point unanswered burst by Wales that meant Triple Crown glory and left them two wins away from a second Grand Slam in three seasons.

Wales have something England don’t possess, according to injured playmaker Rhys Patchell – it’s the Alun Wyn Jones stare. It has been highlighted by former England World Cup winner, now pundit, Matt Dawson in his BBC online column in which he compared the leadership the Wales captain provides to that which England have under their skipper Owen Farrell. Dawson said: “Because there are no fans, you can hear everything now. I hear the England players and it is all cajoling and tapping people on the bum telling them it is OK when they have just given away their 13th penalty.

Wayne Pivac has admitted French referee Pascal Gauzere got it badly wrong at the Principality Stadium – he should definitely have yellow carded Maro Itoje. Whilst all the focus may have been on Gauzere’s controversial decisions to allow tries for Josh Adams and Liam Williams to stand in Wales’ 40-24 Triple Crown-clinching victory, the Wales coach pointed to another decision by the official. Itoje conceded five penalties on his own as England’s discipline fell apart in the later stages of the match and Pivac admitted he expected the England second row to be sent to the sin bin.

The joy of George North’s 100th cap landmark for Wales will be lined with sadness at his boyhood club. The Wales centre will lead his team out against England today, hoping his celebrations for a century of appearances can inspire the delivery of a Six Nations Triple Crown. But his record-breaking milestone has been put into perspective by the death of a member of his first rugby club.

The first crowd-less Wales v England Six Nations match will take place this afternoon – an eerie prospect, even a year on from the disappearance of fans from most of our sporting fixtures. No roars, no shouts and certainly no singing. Rhodri Jeremiah details the power of song at matches between the old rivals. Let’s be honest here,  we all love a sing song. Whether it’s in the shower, the pub or even at a rugby international.

Wayne Pivac has praised George North’s attitude and appetite as he prepares to win his 100th Wales cap and become a rugby union record-breaker. North will reach a century in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash against England at the Principality Stadium. And at 28 years and 320 days, he will eclipse Australia captain Michael Hooper by four weeks as the youngest player to clock up 100 appearances for their country.

Eddie Jones has told England to pick up their own arousal levels when they face Wales this weekend. But it’s not a case of thinking Welsh fires can melt the mighty iceberg, says Harri Morgan. It’s more about Wales being coldly, clinical themselves. Expect Eddie’s England to arrive in Cardiff brimming with whoop and holler. Each milestone in the game will be celebrated to the hilt. Every high pitched rejoice or northern grunt, designed to nudge up the level on their “arousal-ometer”.

By Paul Jones Shane Williams has backed George North to chase down his international try-scoring record after rediscovering his love of rugby and earning his 100th Wales cap. North, 28, will bring up his century of appearances when Wales face England in Cardiff on Saturday, having missed the win over Scotland last time out due […]

Welsh coal mining once used to produce prop forwards for Wales, but these days few jobs sit beside being a professional rugby player. Except, it seems, if you’re a farmer from west Wales as Wyn Jones is proving is this Six Nations and as he tells Graham Thomas. Wyn Jones has revealed a return to shearing sheep during lockdown got him in the mood to strong-arm opponents in this season’s Six Nations. The Wales prop has been one of the big success stories of the tournament so far – collecting the man-of-the-match award in taking the clippers to Ireland and then giving the Scots a haircut with another forceful display in the win at Murrayfield.

Wales flanker Justin Tipuric insists his Triple Crown chasers are level-headed ahead of their showdown against England on Saturday. “We know we haven’t been playing at the top of our game and we know we have got a lot to improve on.” says the Ospreys captain. “We are not a perfect team, but we are still winning games which shows we’re doing something right.

Siwan Lillicrap has been confirmed as captain for Wales Women’s rescheduled Six Nations campaign in April by head coach Warren Abrahams. The forward took over the armband in November 2019 from hooker Carys Phillips.

Wayne Pivac has been given a New Zealand seal of approval from fellow Kiwi John Mitchell just days before the pair clash in the Six Nations. England defence coach Mitchell has backed the direction in which Pivac is taking his Wales team, who are just one win away from an unexpected Triple Crown. The two countrymen will meet at the Principality Stadium on Saturday with Pivac having received an unsolicited pat on the back from the former All Blacks and USA head coach.

Jonathan Humphreys has reminded Wales that a “world class” England team will be coming to Cardiff on Saturday – despite their recent problems. The Wales forwards coach is aware of the quality that will be in the opposition ranks and has stressed his own team will need to be at their very best if they are to claim an unexpected Triple Crown. England are one from two so far in the Six Nations after a shock home defeat to Scotland in the opening round and a comfortable but still scratchy win over winless Italy the following week. 

Wales have the ability to make life tough for England on Saturday, according to former red rose prop Phil Vickery, who says if he bet then his money would be on Wales. The former World Cup winner fears more setbacks for his old side in this weekend’s Six Nations clash in Cardiff unless they can make better use of their “embarrassing” array of talent. Wales, argues Vickery, have finally got past the “hangover” from the Warren Gatland era and are making progress under Wayne Pivac.

It may be Wales-England week, but West Walian Steven Shingler wants to take Ealing Trailfinders to the Gallagher Premiership – and prepare for his next life as a professional coach. The man from Hendy has previously plied his trade at London Irish, Scarlets, Cardiff Blues and Stade Montois but believes Ealing have the potential to be as big as any of them. Ealing are a hugely ambitious club owned by multi-millionaire Mike Gooley and have their sights set on the big time.

Ken Owens has warned England to expect no less intensity at an empty Principality Stadium than if there were 70,000 Welsh fans screaming at them. The Wales hooker intends to add to the problems of Eddie Jones, who says his side are suffering from the drop in aggression that is evident across rugby and football due to the coronavirus-enforced absence of spectators at grounds. England suffered their first Twickenham defeat to Scotland since 1983 before beating Italy 41-18 in another underwhelming home display.

Dean Ryan conceded he was left proud but frustrated after the Dragons blew a chance to take the scalp of Guinness Pro14 champions Leinster. Ryan saw his team battle back to earn a losing bonus point as they went down 35-29 to at a very wet and windy Rodney Parade. The home side led by a point at the break as the visitors fell foul of referee Ben Whitehouse’s whistle and at that stage it looked like a shock result might be on the cards with the Dragons seeking a first win over the Dubliners since 2016.

The Ospreys will be looking for a fourth straight victory when they take on Zebre at The Liberty Stadium on Saturday night. Toby Booth’s side have also managed to blood plenty of youngsters this season, including 20-year-old fly-half Josh Thomas, who is grateful for no less than four top quality No.10s who are guiding his progress as he tells Graham Thomas. Josh Thomas knows he’s at the perfect finishing school for a would-be Wales outside-half. After all, the Ospreys youngster currently has a quartet of high grade number tens guiding him that would be the envy of almost every rugby club in the UK and beyond.

George North has been given the “green light” to win his 100th Wales cap against England in the Six Nations showdown next week. North missed Wales’ second Six Nations win against Scotland last weekend with a foot injury. But the 28-year-old British and Irish Lions star has returned to training ahead of England’s visit to Cardiff on Saturday week. Wales attack coach Stephen Jones said: “George is making good progress, every day he is improving. He’s taken part in some sort of training already, which is great, and that’s the good thing from our perspective. I believe it is a full green light.”

Next week, Wales will be bidding for a Triple Crown when they take on England – surely, the most unexpected success story of the season. They’ve blindsided their critics, but the red cards have also led to a certain blind spot when it comes to possible concussion, says Harri Morgan.  After the opening two rounds of the Six Nations, Wales are fighting the good fight for all the students who were never given the opportunity to disprove their predicted grades. Ok, so their luck is in.