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.

Wales flanker Josh Navidi is among a group of players calling for rugby to bring in meaningful change to reduce head injuries. Navidi – who missed the first half of this season after suffering a concussion in a training session for Cardiff Blues – is backing Progressive Rugby to lobby World Rugby for urgent reform to the way the game is organised and officiated. The group have written an open letter to World Rugby which is also signed by current and former players that includes Alix Popham, who was diagnosed with early onset dementia back in December.

Dai Young insists the arrival of Rhys Priestland at Cardiff Blues will help develop Jarrod Evans – rather than drive him away. The Blues have confirmed that Priestland is moving to the Arms Park this summer after six seasons at Bath. The 34-year-old former Wales No.10 has signed a long-term contract at the Arms Park, where he will challenge Evans for the pivot role.

Forest Green Rovers like to promote themselves as the world’s greenest sports club, but one day Pentyrch rugby club could give them a run for their money. Certainly, the club just north of Cardiff are heading in the right direction. Not only have they decided to install solar panels on the clubhouse roof, but they are also planning to use savings on their bills to invest in walking rugby groups for both male and female players. None of this would be possible from their own funds, so the club made a successful bid for a grant from the Be Active Wales Fund, which has now moved into the stage of trying to help sports clubs become more sustainable after the current pandemic.

Eddie Jones has claimed Cardiff-bound England have lost their edge because they are playing without crowds. The England coach will bring his team to a fanless Principality Stadium next week with a mission to try and deny Wales an unexpected Triple Crown. But the Australian has admitted his team are not what they were because of the impact of playing in empty stadia. England lost at home to Scotland in a deserted Twickenham in the opening round of the Six Nations before recovering to beat Italy, but without ever hitting top gear.

The coach who helped launch Louis Rees-Zammit’s club career is not in the least bit surprised by his blockbusting impact on Test match rugby. As Gloucester Rugby’s junior academy manager, Alex Guest worked closely with the Wales wing sensation after he arrived in the west country as a 16-year-old Hartpury College student. And in the space of four remarkable years, Rees-Zammit has gone from starting his rugby apprenticeship to graduating on the Guinness Six Nations stage by scoring a stunning match-winning try for Wales against Scotland at Murrayfield.

The beaming smile on the 20-year-old’s face said it all. Louis Rees-Zammit is a young man living out his dream. With him in their side Wales are two from two in the Six Nations and on course, somehow, for a Grand Slam. There is no doubt Wayne Pivac’s team has had the rub of the green so far in their back-to-back wins over Ireland and Scotland. Both Wales’ opposition have, crucially, lost men to red cards.

The Dragons needs to be taken back into private ownership if Welsh rugby is to prosper and the nation’s four regions are able to survive and then thrive. That’s the call from a figure who used to sit at the centre of Welsh sport, who says it’s time for the regions to realise they are being taken for a ride. Newport-based Dragons are currently owned by governing body, the Welsh Rugby Union although the region’s chairman David Buttress is keen for that to change.

Wayne Pivac has hailed the stunning performance by Louis Rees-Zammit after the young Wales wing’s try double secured a thrilling 25-24 Guinness Six Nations victory over Scotland. Rees-Zammit, making only a second Six Nations appearance, followed up his touchdown against Ireland last weekend with two more, including a brilliant individual effort from just inside Scotland’s half. It was the kind of impact that has got pundits such as Jonathan Davies already tipping Rees-Zammit for a Lions tour place this summer.

Scotland captain Stuart Hogg has promised his team will close down the threat of Wales – and in particular the returning Liam Williams – at Murrayfield on their way to backing up their historic win over England. Hogg led Scotland to their first win at Twickenham since 1983 with a display against the pre-tournament favourites England that was more dominant than the 11-6 scoreline suggested. Another win for Scotland, who have never won the competition since Italy joined to make it the Six Nations in 2000, would put them in a commanding position.