Six Nations 2013: Jonathan Davies says Wales can handle pressure

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Mike Phillips hopes Wales can let rip

RBS SIX NATIONS: WALES v ENGLAND

Venue:

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Date:

Saturday, 16 March

Kick-off:

17:00 GMT

Coverage:

Watch on BBC One, HD & Online; Listen on BBC Radio 5 live, Radio Wales, Radio Cymru & online; live text commentary online; highlights & analysis on Scrum V at 19:00 on Sun, 17 March on BBC Wales & online, and 2315 on BBC Two

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.

Title permutations

An England victory by any margin would secure a first GRAND SLAM triumph in a decade.

An England defeat by six points or fewer would be enough for ENGLAND TO WIN THE TITLE.

If England lose by seven points but outscore Wales by three tries or more, ENGLAND WIN THE TITLE.

A Wales victory by seven points or more, providing they stay ahead of England on tournament tries (7 to 5 so far), would see WALES RETAIN THE TITLE.

If Wales win by seven points but England score two more tries then the TITLE WOULD BE SHARED.

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."