Six Nations: James Haskell confident England are ready for Wales

FIT-AGAIN flanker James Haskell says England now have the mental fortitude to ensure they never freeze again in Cardiff.
DRIVING FORCE: Englands James Haskell drives at the Welsh defence at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff two years ago. Picture: David Davies/PA.DRIVING FORCE: Englands James Haskell drives at the Welsh defence at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff two years ago. Picture: David Davies/PA.
DRIVING FORCE: Englands James Haskell drives at the Welsh defence at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff two years ago. Picture: David Davies/PA.

The Wasps star is set to win his 72nd cap when they face Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, looking to keep on course for back-to-back grand slams.

Traditionally, the venue, with its vocal partisan crowd, has caused no end of problems for the English, who have won just two of their last seven fixtures there.

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The most alarming was the 30-3 defeat in 2013 that spectacularly ended grand slam hopes.

However, they rectified that by coming from 10 points behind to win two years ago on a dramatic night, when they famously refused to enter the fray until Wales agreed to join them. A tense stand-off ensued as captain Chris Robshaw insisted they simply would not leave the tunnel and be subjected to any form of intimidation while their rivals lingered in their own dressing room.

The hosts, of course, wanted England to be exposed to the febrile roar of their home support and be left waiting in the cold, possibly for a few minutes, for their own arrival.

Kick-off was eventually delayed by six minutes as Stuart Lancaster’s side steadfastly refused to soften their stance.

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Asked if that highlighted a mindset England would not be pushed around, Haskell – who has played all five of their Six Nations fixtures in Cardiff since 2007 – explained: “You know what Wales are going to do.

“As a team they are very direct. It is one thing knowing, another thing stopping it. We have to go there solely focused on ourselves but understand exactly what it is about. When we went there and lost the grand slam we were a bit wet behind the ears in terms of what to expect. Last time, we understood that.

“There were guys who had had that experience before and we have that in the squad now ready to kick on.

“It is about not being distracted by the side-show that goes with it.

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“It is about not being distracted by the crowd and the noise. You have to go there, deliver your job and then leave.”

Wales overcame a 7-3 interval scoreline in Rome to prosper 33-7 on Sunday and will look to bring an end to England’s impressive run, Saturday’s 19-16 success against France setting a new national record of 15 straight wins.

Haskell came off the bench in that game for his first England appearance since suffering a serious foot injury in Melbourne last June and did “fantastically well,” according to coach Eddie Jones.

Haskell made a significant impact which was impressive especially given his lack of rugby in the last seven months.

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He knocked himself out just 35 seconds into his comeback for Wasps against Leicester and then played only 55 minutes against Zebre before France.

His experience of winning in Cardiff could be crucial in furthering England’s claims for another success but what has been the difference on those rare occasions they have come out on top?

The 31-year-old said: “It is important to play our own game, understand Wales will come at us very fired up and we need to match that passion, worry about your own preparation and what you will do and deal with the game in little sections.

“If anything goes right, realise why it is going right and keep doing it. If something goes wrong, how can we adjust it on the spot?

“That is what sides have done there when we have won.”

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Haskell, of course, also remembers that famous night two years ago after being denied a glorious try – by a stubborn goalpost.

His surging run was stopped as he twisted straight into the upright, bouncing back off it in a hilarious incident that was replayed again and again.

“That was the closest I have been to scoring a try in a while,” recalled the former Stade Francais forward.

“Everyone laughed but I almost broke my neck. I managed to not lose the ball, though, and we scored in the next phase, so I’ll take that.

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“I wasn’t left with much option between (Leigh) Halfpenny and (Alex) Cuthbert, two great defenders. I thought I would do the old hit and spin. Unfortunately, my radar was a bit off. These things happen, you know.

“It has made a great highlight reel and comedy so I have brought that to the world.”