Alun Wyn Jones says Wales' Six Nations clash with England will be historic
Friday 22 February 2019 13:31, UK
Alun Wyn Jones says there is more to come from Wales as they target a record-breaking win against England on Saturday.
The two remaining unbeaten teams in this season's Six Nations go head to head in what is effectively a title eliminator at the Principality Stadium.
Their route to Cardiff has been a contrasting one, with England claiming a maximum 10 points in seeing off Ireland and France, while Wales triumphed efficiently - rather than spectacularly - against Les Bleus and Italy.
Wales, though, are unbeaten for a year, winning their last 11 games to equal the national record set between 1907 and 1910.
"As a squad, we are very real about our performances of late," said Jones, who will make a record 18th appearance for a player from any country against England.
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"To get the W [win] is the most important thing, and people sometimes forget how you win. It's all about the W, particularly at this level.
"There is more in us, and hopefully we can do that on Saturday.
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"It's momentum. If you look at us in the autumn, we had momentum and we have maintained it.
"However you get that and achieve your wins, you want to keep your momentum, and that's what we want to do.
"I was asked to give a few words to describe the [England] encounter, and it's always historic.
"The players on both sides know what they want to achieve and what this game means for the championship. It can affect the championship, and everyone knows that.
"Am I going to build it up? No, I will let you build it up. For us, there is an element of a job, of work to do today to be ready.
"There is a danger we can get overly emotive and swept away and be tired coming into the game, so there is that element of feet on the ground and job of work to prepare ourselves.
"We are very real about our performances. We are our own harshest critics in the fact we have have left a few [points] out there.
"I think we had four disallowed tries in the first two games. That's 28 points, which is a big difference, and we are well aware of that."
Wales have not beaten England in the Six Nations since a record 30-3 victory six years ago destroyed English Grand Slam hopes.
But if the bookmakers are to be believed, then there is barely a score between the teams this time round as they look to remain on a title and Grand Slam course.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland said: "They [England] have done pretty well in their opening two games. I thought tactically they were very good against Ireland.
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"They kicked a lot and got a lot of success out of that. They get a lot of tries from kicking. Our aerial game will have to be good.
"I don't think anyone knows where we are yet, except for ourselves, which is a nice place to be.
"They will try to take us on at set-pieces, use big runners and look to play a territory game and kick a lot.
"We just have to cope with that and stay in the arm-wrestle. They have scored early, so it is important they don't get off to a quick start."
