Six Nations 2013: Jonathan Davies says Wales can handle pressure

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Mike Phillips hopes Wales can let rip

Centre Jonathan Davies believes Wales will thrive in the pressure cooker of their Six Nations decider against England in Cardiff on Saturday.

England's 18-11 win over Italy means they are playing for the Grand Slam, but a Welsh win by eight points would see them snatch the title.

"When the pressure is put on us we just thrive on it," said Davies.

"This group of players are used to a big-game environment," added the 24-year-old Scarlets centre.

Interim head coach Rob Howley's side had a disappointing run of eight Test defeats, including a home loss to Ireland in the opening match of the tournament.

However, successive away wins against France, Italy and Scotland have put the defending champions back in the title hunt.

"The fact that people wrote us off after the first game, to come back with three away wins, the boys were extremely pleased with that," said Davies.

"We understood that we could cause problems in this Championship and do very well."

And Davies feels the team's ability to cope with the pressure of crucial matches will aid them when fronting up to Lancaster's men.

"We've been in these big games before and we have experience in them," said Davies.

"We have experience from last year's Grand Slam and the semi-final in the World Cup."

Davies was a key member of Wales' 2012 Grand Slam team, crossing twice in the opening game victory against Ireland in Dublin.

He scored his ninth international try in the 26-9 win against Italy in this year's campaign, and expects Wales to approach the game as they would any other Test match.

"It's an exciting week ahead and we just have to make sure that we do everything we can to be ready for it," he said.

"We know what to expect and we are just going about our business normally and keeping our heads down.

"We need to trust our defensive pattern and make sure that we keep doing what we have been doing in the last three games."

Wales are at home for the first time since the opening weekend of the tournament, and Davies hopes the Welsh crowd will play their part as well.

"Cardiff is the best place to play rugby in the world," he said. "I am sure there will be an amazing atmosphere at the [Millennium] Stadium."

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249 comments

  • Comment posted by U15609659, at 12:19 12 Mar 2013

    I'm an English fan and nervous about the game, not because I think we're bad but because I know how fired up the Welsh get for this one. I also don't think there's much to pick between the 2 teams based on recent performance. Anyone who thinks either team is setting the world alight is kidding themselves! Both are grinding out wins and ultimately that's all that matters but think we'll edge it

  • Comment posted by gjpowell, at 11:13 12 Mar 2013

    One thing is for sure, against us the Welsh won't do their trick of kicking the ball to the opposition with a couple of minutes left so that they can sportingly have one final attempt to win the game. The Australians rely very much on that Welsh gesture/generosity!!!

  • Comment posted by jon, at 11:17 12 Mar 2013

    to be honest i wouldnt mind if England stuffed us as long as a) its a good freeflowing game, b) lots of tries and c) wales play flat out for 80

    man for man i think the two sides are v close, on the day one flash of brilliance will probably decide it, cant wait

    ignore the ref stuff its rubbish, and anyway a lot of decisions he makes are based on touch judge views not his

    Wales by 3

  • Comment posted by jon, at 11:07 12 Mar 2013

    Playing at cardiff should give us an edge. It wont be for the faint hearted thats for sure. Wales to win but narrowly, maybe 3 points. LH will need to be on top form kicking, cant afford to miss 3 like last week. Be interested to see how the england centres play, not in the game against Italy. Fascinating match. Hope it lives up to hype. May the best team on the day win.

  • Comment posted by Hatch87, at 14:27 12 Mar 2013

    I agree about the boo'ing of the kickers, this is suppose to be a gentlemens game, not a damn pantomime. Hot steaming pie in the face of any booers I say, even if they are supporting the same team.

  • Comment posted by Come on Wales, at 14:19 12 Mar 2013

    @167/8 agree.

    @165 ... And look where that got Mr Robinson ....

    On a serious note though, the atmosphere at the millennium has changed (for the worse IMO ) over the last 5 years or so ...

    There isn't as much singing as there used to be, and as for the booing kickers .. Simply discraceful.

    I would very much like to see the ground return to the old atmospheric conditions ....

  • Comment posted by clarxpi, at 13:32 12 Mar 2013

    @144 Nice piece of trolling. Fool!

  • Comment posted by U11824256, at 13:00 12 Mar 2013

    It is definately a false dawn for one of these two teams, i just cant work out which one yet... Im going to plump for an England win, comfortably, but it could quite easily go either way, beacuse i just cant work it out.

    It certainly wont be close!

  • Comment posted by Come on Wales, at 13:00 12 Mar 2013

    The English say (Will Carling, former England captain): For England to win a Grand Slam in Cardiff is about as hard a task as you could get, probably not quite as hard as winning a World Cup in Australia but it’s pretty close in terms of its rivalry.

    It will be right up there. If they manage to do it, it will be an incredible achievement.

  • Comment posted by Glamorgan12, at 12:48 12 Mar 2013

    From Englishman in Wales - think it will be very close in my opinion. Wales have better indvidual players in a few key positions, but England have been generally been better than the sum of their parts would suggest. Due to home advantage and extra experience in the Welsh team can see Wales by a converted try. Loss of Morgan a big blow as back row looks unbalanced without true number 8.

  • Comment posted by 1927city, at 12:30 12 Mar 2013

    As a proud Welshman, I think we will win. By 7 ...not so sure. I think we have the better team man 4 man (although not playing like it atm admittedly).

    But if England beat what is a good Wales team away from home with all the pressure that they have placed on themselves after the Italy game then they will FULLY deserve the GS.

    Hopefully everyone can say well done to them if so and vice verca

  • Comment posted by TARW, at 12:28 12 Mar 2013

    @92
    Ah Hersh so it will be a devalued 6 nations even if England win it !!
    Thats a change from it being poor in 05, 08, & 2012
    I must remember that one lol

  • Comment posted by open flanker, at 12:16 12 Mar 2013

    What pressure? Wales are playing at home coming off a hot streak. We have to up our game massively to win. The pressure is on England.

  • Comment posted by The Holy Hooker, at 12:06 12 Mar 2013

    @78

    Talented Celts vs well-organised Saxons is a bit of an outdated cliche. England have plenty of talent, but are typically younger and, less-developed than their Weslh counterparts.

  • Comment posted by billywhizz14, at 09:07 12 Mar 2013

    Uffington Red. More recently than England :-)

  • Comment posted by happydays, at 08:22 12 Mar 2013

    Both will be tight & feeling immense pressure. With the exception of Eng v Scot and Wales v Ireland 2nd half, neither team have been playing flowing consummate rugby & have struggled to create attacking space. Wales Scot match achieved the record for penalties - next weekend could be a record for box kicks. We're dreaming if we think it's going to be a try-fest. Battle of the back rows me thinks.

  • Comment posted by U15432729, at 20:32 13 Mar 2013

    "Welsh and Walsh wishes for whitewash quashed."

    Not exactly the standard of a Welsh bard, Thor, but we appreciate your effort to handle the English (or any) language. Well done, that man!

  • Comment posted by spidermike, at 19:32 13 Mar 2013

    That word 'consistent' again.
    GS to 5th, GS to 4th. Just the sort of 'consistency' their coaches were asking for no doubt.
    Still as long as you beat Eng, eh? Who really cares?

  • Comment posted by Ruguru1, at 14:13 13 Mar 2013

    @223 if never ceases to amaze me what you can get away with in the scrums when you can push opponents around the park, bit like saying, the more I practice the luckier I get.fact is wales scrum has been awesome, can't remember many packs in last ten years being able to destroy Italy's scrum all blacks included. Think Adam jones bum is occupy two seats on the lions flight already...

  • Comment posted by simonofsurrey, at 13:37 13 Mar 2013

    @225 Maybe the pressure of:
    - being at home
    - being current 6N Champs/GS winners
    - not wanting to be the first Welsh side ever to concede a GS to England in Cardiff
    - the more experienced side
    - the more successful side

    among other possible reasons...

    Not saying I agree with any of that, mind, just offering a possible answer to your question.

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