Chris Robshaw warns England about ‘Welsh psyche’ as former captain ‘nervous’ ahead of Six Nations clash in ‘hostile environment’
Chris Robshaw previews Wales v England Six Nations clash.
Chris Robshaw has warned England they must fully understand the nature of the beast they are up against if they are to win in Wales and keep their Six Nations title tilt alive.
Steve Borthwick’s side are odds-on favourites to claim a fourth straight victory and extend Wales’ worst-ever losing streak to 17 matches, yet former captain Robshaw admitted to Planet Rugby: “I am nervous about this one.”
This is the man who famously refused to be messed about by Wales in Cardiff, holding back his team in the tunnel in 2015 after sensing a plot to send them out early to be subjected to a trial by fury in a fired-up Dragons’ den.
30-3 humiliation
He was also skipper, two years earlier, when an England side which had just hammered the All Blacks turned up to collect a Grand Slam and were handed their biggest beating in the history of the fixture.
From tunnel stand-off, which inspired a notable victory, to 30-3 humiliation, which stings to this day, Robshaw has experienced the full gamut of emotions in the Welsh capital.
Which is why he sees danger in this fixture where nobody else seems to. And why he is keen to impart his wisdom to Maro Itoje and his men to ensure Super Saturday ends well rather than scarring them for life.
“Why am I nervous? Partly because Wales have improved massively in the past two games,” he said. “Partly because they have had an extra day of recovery, which is significant at this end of the tournament.
“But mainly, because experience has taught me the effect England coming to their home with the chance of winning the title under that roof, has on the Welsh.
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“In 2013 we were thoroughly beaten. We spoke beforehand of what it was likely to be like, what we would likely experience, but we were way off.
“We didn’t truly understand the psyche of what it meant to the Welsh people for an English team to win a championship, to win a Grand Slam, in Cardiff.
“It was a massive learning curve, going into a real hostile environment and getting put away like that.”
Premier Sports TV’s Chris Robshaw. Photo credit: Adam Davy/PA Wire
This current England team is still finding its feet. It has depended on home comforts to stop the bleeding after a horrible 2024. Take away victory in Tokyo against a poor Japan side and they have not won away in more than a year.
And here they are headed for a venue which, in Robshaw’s experience, only Ellis Park can rival when it comes to hostility towards England sides.
“It will be backs-to-the-wall stuff,” he continued. “England will hear a lot about how Wales have not won for 16 games, how the win is theirs for the taking. My old mate Adam Jones I’m sure will be playing mind games.
“But, if we’re honest, Wales gave Ireland and Scotland a real rattle. There’s been a massive improvement, [Taulupe] Faletau is back and, yeah, England need to be wary of this side.”
Robshaw says how England manage the game is key. In 2013 there were not big moments that got away from them, rather a couple of drop balls here and there, the odd missed tackle, which turned the momentum Wales’ way. From there, the crowd were all over it and England were blown away.
Compare that to Robshaw’s return in 2015. “We were streetwise to their antics, to the environment, to situations,” said the former Harlequin, who made a colossal 26 tackles on that redemption day.
“In that sort of atmosphere you have to try to control the mood. Make early statements. Wales are sure to try to start fast to get the crowd fired up. If they do England might need to slow the game down, interrupt their tempo at the lineout, perhaps a bit of trickery at the scrums, take the wind out of their sails.
Incredible venue
“We all know what it’s like in that incredible Principality Stadium, one of the best in all world sport, when the anthem gets going, the choirs, the flame throwers, all that kind of stuff.
“And this is a really important game for England. For them to come out of this Six Nations in a positive light, they need to win. They were under a lot of pressure after the autumn, now they’re winning games, they’ve got the English crowd back on side.
“Beat Wales and they’re on a nice little run heading on tour to Argentina. Lose, and instead of perhaps winning the title they could finish as low as fourth – and the pressure is back on the side.
“I suspect it’s going to be quite even. I can’t see either side running away with it, but I must admit I am a little nervous, more so than in other games.”
Chris Robshaw is part of the Premier Sports team bringing every game live from the knock-out stages of this season’s Investec Champions Cup – and EPCR Challenge Cup from quarter-finals onwards. Tune in on Friday April 4 at 7.30pm for Northampton Saints’ home clash with Clermont Auvergne. Visit www.premiersports.tv for more information.
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