'I'm sure there's a lot of anger that will be thrown out between now and the game'
Neil Jenkins is paying little attention to Eddie Jones' pre-match comments as Wales and England gear up for action next week.
Head coach Jones has seen his England side make a perfect start to the Six Nations and, despite a break in the schedule this weekend, has already started to poke fun at next opponents Wales.
Jones suggested Warren Gatland's men represent the best Welsh team of all time but insisted England have nothing to fear in Cardiff.
Yet Wales great Jenkins, who serves as Gatland's kicking coach, expected that there would be plenty of bluster ahead of the clash and even suggested that Jones might be right in playing down the significance of the venue.
"I'm not concerned about what he says. It's up to Eddie what he says," Jenkins said. "He's got an opinion and he's entitled to that.
"[Cardiff] might not be intimidating for England. They've won the last few times they've played there so it's probably not a fortress for them. Maybe he's right in what he's saying.
"It is what it is. I'm sure there's a lot of anger that will be thrown out between now and the game.
"I'm sure Eddie will throw some as well. He's a fantastic coach, has done a fantastic job with England and has done throughout his career.
"It's Wales v England - it doesn't get any better than that for us. When the All Blacks come to town, that's a humongous game. This can be on a par."
Both teams have won their opening two matches of the campaign, with England defeating Ireland and France. Wales saw off the French and then Italy.
Jenkins also believes that Wales must beat England to have any chance to win the tournament.
“No disrespect to Scotland, who are a very good side and have done a lot of good things over the last year or so, but playing England at Twickenham is a big ask for any team. The reality for us is it’s a game we need to win to give us a chance of winning the title.
“No disrespect, because I hope both Scotland and Italy do turn up at Twickenham and play exceptionally well, but the reality is if we lose we would be playing for second.
“As a Welshman, it’s not far off being the be-all and end-all type of game. That’s what it is for us.
“I think the emotions are pretty high at the moment, and we are still a week-and-a-half away from the game. We are under no illusions about what’s coming.
“We know we need to play better than we have in the two games we’ve played so far.
“We haven’t really fired a shot yet.
Watch: Eddie Jones "We are playing the greatest Welsh side ever"
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I think Italy were always targetting this match and intended to win. They needed to exorcise the 2023 RWC. I think they could have done with a bit more help from other 6Ns particularly from Ireland to knock more holes in NZ and their confidence.
Mentioned before the Italy Argentina match was a virus that ripped through the Italy camp early that week. In general play Italy were competitive albeit with a high error count and crucial missed tackles.
Ive said it before the era of NZ turning up unprepared for all comers and triumphing is definitively over. If a Tier1 team target NZ and NZ do not prepare accordingly they are in with a major chance of losing. It used to occur the odd time in RWCs against France, now it can occur v any Tier1. The competition has improved. NZ can still be at the top but their talents must be deployed sufficiently into dismantling teams as with their attack then allowed to exploit.
They dismantled Ireland pretty well in Dublin which went largely unnoticed. That allowed them scoreboard advantage and attacking opportunities of which one was enough.
That Italian team beat Wales and significantly Scotland last year. They used the loss to NZ in the most positive way possible. No doubt NZ prepared but I would assume it was similar to versus Argentina: 3/4 arsed at best. These test matches are rare and this was another chance to practice dismantling a determined and prepared opponent which was lost. If Italy had scored a 7 pointer at 17-6....an Italian win was on.
Go to commentsGB = England, Scotland, Wales. UK = England, Wales, Scotland, NI
Nothing to stew son.
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