England’s Regan ready to rumble

ENGLAND warrior Mark Regan is expecting a battle in today’s RBS 6 Nations opener, claiming: “There is never a friendly with the Welsh.”

Wales head to Twickenham, where they have not won for 20 years, after a prolonged build-up dominated by Warren Gatland’s mind games.

The new Wales coach has talked about his team needing to be ready for a possible bloodbath, while also highlighting recalled England full-back Iain Balshaw’s perceived weaknesses and questioning the Rugby Football Union when they failed to offer red rose boss Brian Ashton a fixed long-term contract.