Roberts prescribes Wales win after testing week

But it will not be the only item on Roberts’s agenda this week, as he also faces two key medical exams during the final stages of qualifying to become a doctor.

The Cardiff Blues centre flew home from Edinburgh on Saturday to prepare for this morning’s paper, which is followed by another exam next Thursday.

He insists, though, there is no danger of him taking his eye off the ball as reigning champions Wales target a minimum eight-point victory that would mean a successful title defence and end England’s bid for a first tournament clean sweep since 2003.

“It’s a busy week,” Roberts said, with a devastating sense of understatement. “But my focus is as soon as training finishes it switches, then when I arrive at The Vale (Wales’ training base) it switches again.

“It’s been the same for the last seven or eight years, and it is no different this week.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way, really. I’ve always said since I left school that it was something I wanted to do.

“I flick the switch. I’ve done it well over the last six or seven years, and this is going to be no different.”

England have never previously found themselves chasing a grand slam in Cardiff and their history in rugby’s professional era is littered with falls at the Six Nations final hurdle.

So what about a chance to spoil that grand slam attempt?

“It’s fantastic isn’t it,” said Roberts.

“That is the challenge for us, but it is not spoiling it for them, it’s about beating England at home. It’s the ultimate game.

“Defensively we have been very solid and it is a great run of results we are on. We’ve got the victories, we’ve dug in deep. It hasn’t been the prettiest but that is what rugby away from home is all about.

“First and foremost it is about Wales winning the game next week. We are the home team and whatever England did against Italy was out of our hands.”