Wales ‘in good place’ for Slam assault

Mike Phillips believes Wales are “in a good place” as they prepare for a Triple Crown assault at Twickenham that could leave them two wins away from Grand Slam glory.

World Cup semi-finalists Wales will put their unbeaten record in this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship on the line against title rivals England, who also boast a 100% record.

Those victories, though, have been achieved in starkly contrasting fashion. While Wales posted 50 points and six tries in defeating Ireland and Scotland, England were thankful for two Charlie Hodgson touchdowns – both courtesy of charged-down kicks – to edge out Scotland and Italy.

But Wales will be conscious of a poor recent record at Twickenham, having won just once from their last 13 visits and conceding an average 35 points a time during that period.

“It is a massive game now, it is set up nicely,” said Wales scrum-half Phillips, who heads back to Bayonne this week for his club’s Top 14 appointment with Clermont Auvergne next weekend.

“It doesn’t really matter who is favourite. We will go up there full of confidence and do what we have been doing, which is working hard for each other.

“We are in a good place at the moment.

“We played them three times last year, including two games before the World Cup, so we know what to expect. It is going to be a really tough game, but it is about doing our part.

“We’ve shown when we get the ball that we are dangerous.

“Italy threw it away (against England) really. They were up by nine points and in control, and then they threw the game away. They will be frustrated.

“But to be fair to England, they have had two wins, and a win is a win.

“They are two from two. They are a new side, so it is important we go up there with a solid defence because they have got some threatening, dangerous players.”

Scotland held Wales 3-3 halfway through their latest Millennium Stadium encounter, but a devastating scoring burst of three tries in 13 minutes kept Phillips and company on course for a 20th championship Triple Crown.

Full-back Leigh Halfpenny scored 22 points, including a try double, while further evidence of Wales’ exciting young talent chain emerged through promising displays by wing Alex Cuthbert and flanker Aaron Shingler, who made his Test debut as replacement for injured captain Sam Warburton.

Wales coach Warren Gatland, meanwhile, is confident that Warburton (leg) and wing George North (ankle) will be fit to face England on Saturday week, with lock Alun-Wyn Jones also in contention after starting his comeback from a toe injury for the Ospreys three days ago.