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'England won't concede the yards that Scotland conceded' - Robinson

By Jack Davies
Former England full-back Jason Robinson at the Rosslyn Park HSBC National School Sevens

Wales will cause England problems if they can maintain their performance levels from last weekend’s 34-7 win against Scotland, according to Jason Robinson.

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Warren Gatland’s men put on a thrilling display on the opening weekend of the Six Nations, making light of a number of injuries to key players to secure a bonus-point victory in Cardiff.

Wales visit Twickenham on Saturday to take on an England side who kicked off the championship with a 46-15 away win over Italy and are chasing an unprecedented third consecutive title.

World Cup winner Robinson believes the visitors – who have named 10 Scarlets players in an unchanged starting XV – will give Eddie Jones’ side plenty to think about, but he expects England to put up a sterner defence than Scotland could muster.

“If they continue to do that then it will cause England a few problems,” Land Rover ambassador Robinson told Omnisport.

“We saw it against Scotland. When you’re on the back foot, when you’re playing with a lot of tempo, it’s hard to defend against.

“[Gareth] Davies has got some good pace and you saw, because of the pressure they put Scotland under, they were able to pick them off.

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“They just seemed comfortable with each other. Obviously most of them play in the same team, but that can make a massive difference. Just knowing players inside out and what they do, styles of play.

“The key thing is being able to deliver. They delivered last week against Scotland, but it’ll be interesting to see what they do when they come up against a better defence.

“England won’t concede the yards that Scotland conceded. They won’t give them that time.

“So it’ll be interesting to see what they then do, if they’re not getting those quick balls.”

https://twitter.com/SixNationsRugby/status/960452462070194177

Robinson identified the ruck as key to Wales’ hopes of victory at Twickenham, commenting: “If any team wants to play a quick game, it’s the breakdown. So there’s obviously going to be a massive scrap around that area for that quick ball.

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“England, when you look at the likes of [Joe] Launchbury and [Maro] Itoje, [Chris] Robshaw, [Courtney] Lawes; we’ve got a lot of players who will certainly compete heavily and not give Wales as much time and space on the ball.

“It’s going to be a great game, a huge battle up front, and conditions are going to play a big part.”

Jones has guided England to 23 wins from 24 matches since taking charge after the disastrous 2015 Rugby World Cup and no team in the history of the Six Nations has won three titles on the spin.

“Although it’s not at the forefront of England’s minds, there’s an opportunity this year to create history,” added Robinson.

“They are obviously still continuing that run of 23 games out of 24, which is great, but we know England will have to step it up another gear and it all remains to be seen whether Wales can come out at Twickenham and play in that same vain and that form, with that confidence, because conditions will be different. There’ll be no roof on and they probably won’t have as much time on the ball.

“If they come out and they play with that intensity then they’ll put England under pressure and it’ll be interesting to see how England then answer it. I didn’t expect Wales to be in this position, but it sets it up nicely.”

Jason Robinson is a Land Rover ambassador. Land Rover has a heritage in rugby at all levels; from grassroots to elite, supporting the game for two decades. @LandRoverRugby #WeDealInReal

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