Wales assistant coach Neil Jenkins has ruled out any discussion of Wales' potential title decider with England on the final weekend.
Wales face Scotland at Murrayfield next weekend before returning to Cardiff to host England, who remain the only side on track for a Grand Slam.
"The main focus for us is to win our games, starting against Scotland, which we know is going to very tough," said Jenkins.
"There is no thought or mention of England a week later. When that comes around it will bring enough pressures with it. Our focus is on Scotland and about doing a job there.
"They (Scotland) are the same as us - two wins out of three - and it is a home game for them.
"They will fancy their chances against us and then to go to Paris on the final day with a chance of maybe them winning the championship.
"It was an excellent win for them on the weekend against Ireland. People talked afterwards about stats and possession, but if you have got the ball you have got to take your chances.
"Ireland didn't take their opportunities on Sunday, and Scotland kept hanging in there, dug in and kicked their kicks."
Prop Gethin Jenkins, who recently completed a move back to Cardiff Blues from Toulon, was hurt in the win over Italy but could return in time to face the Scots.
"We probably won't know for another couple of days, and hopefully we will then get the full extent of where he is at with his injury," added Jenkins.
"It was a tough game. Conditions were very tough, but in terms of bodies being battered and bruised it is no different to any other week.
"And it was brilliant from our point of view to see players like Alun-Wyn Jones and Sam Warburton coming back from injuries.
"We've always said the more players that are fit and playing well, the more selection headaches for Rob (Howley) and the staff.
"Alun-Wyn is a fantastic player, and so is Sam. For them to be coming back and putting pressure on, we are quite lucky. It's good for the team."
Comments
jaycee_111 says...
Heathy
for an investment broker it does not look like you can count past the fingers on one hand. Please justify how my arithmetic was incorrect as per your statement 'What the hell are you talking about? Go back to school. Not worth commenting on any further.' I am waiting .....
Posted 22:27 28th February 2013
jontheref says...
Heathy,
so you are an investment broker?
Which company so I can move my investments!
Posted 15:17 28th February 2013
Heathy says...
@jaycee_111 - I'm happy doing the maths thanks. I'm an investment broker and figures are my thing. However, I'm a grown up and have played rugby and follow the game. I can make figures up so even Italy win but the real world will know that's not going to happen. So, what's your point? We can't call anything until after the next round so all your gibberish is pointless and irrelevant.
Posted 23:22 27th February 2013
jaycee_111 says...
To all
I was not talking about IRB ranking points incase there is any doubt
Heathy
In the example given England play Wales with the points differences of +36 and +19 respectively the difference that Wales needs to overcome is 36-19=17 yes? So if Wales win by 9 their points difference will now be 19+9=28 and England will have 36-9=27 so Wales win the championship if they win by 9 points in the example given.
Did you goto school or have you not reached that level of arithmetic yet in your year group?
Posted 15:56 27th February 2013
jmehrtens says...
@melkdave
don't think he is talking about the irb ranking.
he is just telling you that a win against england by 9 points would be enough. if they beat scotland by the same margin as England beats Italy.
but if England beats Italy by more than 65 points you could be correct that Wales needs 40 odd points.
Posted 13:36 27th February 2013
Rugby_rockstar says...
I should hope not Neil. I'm not convinced you can break through the Scottish defense for starters.
Posted 13:04 27th February 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
blimey fellas, quite correct/incrorrect (dependant on your viewpoint) with the numbers but quite irrelevant until England have faced Italy at home and Wales travelled to Scotland.
On form at the moment, the title could be between England and Scotland anyway come the final week
Posted 12:56 27th February 2013
jontheref says...
melkdave, Jaycee is correct, and he is not talking about ranking points either.
Get a pen and paper and do the maths.
IF, a big IF, Wales won by 10-0, Wales would have a points difference of +29.
England would not have +26, as the 10 Wales score gets deducted from their positive 36.
Anyway, you brought up the numbers, I would guess England will be out of sight by beating Italy by 40+.
IF Wales win in Scotland, I cannot see it being by more than 5, so with those figures, England +76, Wales +24.
Now wales would need to win by 27 to win the Championship.
Best Wales can do is stop the grand slam.
Heathy by your thought process, France also made england look good!
Posted 11:43 27th February 2013
melkdave says...
@Jaycee111
Afraid im not talking about IRB rankings points,and even if Wales did win by 40 points.They still wouldnt have accumlated enough to overtake England in the IRB rankings ,close the gap yeah ,but not overtake.,as they are at home so penalised foe that straight away ,and just to far behind .
Posted 11:22 27th February 2013
Heathy says...
@ jaycee_111 - What the hell are you talking about? Go back to school. Not worth commenting on any further.
@ melkdave - I agree as all this talk is praying England slip up (and they look like the only side that won't ATM and then get spectacularly spanked by Wales who have (all of a sudden) turned into a world beating super team. It will not happen. The same goes for the Scots. England will win the Championship. It's now whether they can get the grand slam. England will beat Italy (who, after starting very well, have made Scotland and Wales look half decent). The question will be by how much. To be honest I really don't think that England have been in top form. It's just the rest, this year, have been dreadful. The 6 Nations started off really well and then collapsed into very mediocre rugby. If I were the English coaching team I would expect the Grand Slam if England are to show they are progressing. Opposition so far has been poor.
Posted 08:56 27th February 2013
jaycee_111 says...
melkdave
you forget that the current points difference is 17 so if Wales beat England by 9 they will win, points against the team you are trying to overtake count double as they add to one side and take away from the other. They wont beat Scotland anyway so really all they have to do is win by 1 point to give Scotland the title so it's all irrelvant :0)
Posted 07:49 27th February 2013
melkdave says...
LOL why would Wales even be talking about a title??They have a potential banana skin against Scotland next up,which wont be easy .Then they may have to beat England by 40 odd points to cliam the title ,hardly a realistic situation is it .Even if they deny England a slam.England have a +36 to Wales +19 points advantage atm,thats nearly double
Posted 18:22 26th February 2013