Six Nations starts with Friday night cracker

After a fortnight of “spicy build-up”, as Martin Johnson described it, the RBS 6 Nations exploded into life tonight as Wales clashed with England at the Millennium Stadium.

Wales coach Warren Gatland launched the first verbal grenade by questioning the character and temperament of England’s fiery hooker Dylan Hartley.

Johnson stood up for his man and returned fire, claiming Gatland was showing signs of pressure after seven Tests without a win.

The barbs flew back and forth across the Severn Bridge all week.

Even today England full-back Ben Foden stoked the furnace by claiming: “We are England, we are the big country, we are going to put these guys in their place.”

The stadium roof was closed to keep out the weather – but 74,500 were due to be crammed inside in anticipation of a stormy Six Nations showdown.

England boss Johnson had no qualms in giving Northampton flanker Tom Wood his debut, while James Haskell and Louis Deacon started in a reshuffled pack.

Mike Tindall took over the England captaincy from Lewis Moody, who was sidelined along with key lineout forwards Courtney Lawes and Tom Croft.

Wales were without injured trio Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones and Leigh Halfpenny but the in-form Andy Powell returned at number eight as one of seven changes from their autumn defeat to New Zealand.