Six Nations – Wales vs England: Clashes between fierce rivals always have extra spice… here are some of the naughtiest moments
SunSport runs through the heated history of the often bitter exchanges before, during and after this intense encounter
TEA-TIME at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Saturday will definitely not feature cucumber sandwiches and china cups.
There will be fire in the belly as England tackle fierce rivals Wales in what promises to be an explosive Six Nations clash.
SunSport rugby experts JONNY FORDHAM and DAVID FACEY recall some naughty niggles between the nations . . .
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CHRIS AND TELL
WALES were involved in a spot of gamesmanship before the last Cardiff match two years ago.
They tried to make England wait on the pitch to hear the crowd taunts amid the fireworks.
But skipper Chris Robshaw refused to leave the tunnel until Wales turned up.
HARSH BUT FAIR
WORLD CUP-winning coach Clive Woodward reckoned England should use any hostile reception in Wales as inspiration.
But he insisted the Welsh always liked to win fair despite the fierce rivalry, saying: “Hostility is manifest in the passionate support, not stupid mind games.”
GAT’S GOTTA HURT
DRAGONS head coach Warren Gatland — absent on Lions duty this year — has become famous for winding up England.
Most notably when he accused Dylan Hartley of being a “choker” before the 2011 match.
It backfired as England won 26-19.
GORDON BENNETT
PHIL BENNETT told his Wales team-mates before the 1977 match: “Look what these b******s have done to Wales. They’ve taken our coal, water, steel. They buy our homes and live in them for a fortnight every year.
“What have they given us? Nothing. We’ve been exploited, raped, controlled and punished by the English and that’s who you’re playing today.”
Wales won 14-9.
WADE’S PUNCHLINE
HARDMAN lock Wade Dooley never took any nonsense. The policeman broke the jaw of Phil Davies with a punch in a clash in the 1987 “Battle of Cardiff”.
Ironically Dooley is now a citing officer for the Premiership.
He is the one dishing out any punishments for players stepping out of line.
CLIVE AND KICKING
FORMER Wales coach Clive Rowlands was asked how his team could respond after being thrashed 49-6 by New Zealand in the 1987 World Cup semi-final.
He said: “We’ll just have to go back to beating England every year.” His team had beaten England 16-3 in the quarter-finals.
SOUR NOTES
WELSH rockers Stereophonics summed up the significance of the annual cross-border battle by penning a tune titled “As long as we beat the English” in 1999.
The song by Kelly Jones and his band became a hit — at least on one side of the Severn Bridge.
LOSING YOUR HEAD
WALES fans are so bonkers that one even HEADBUTTED the England team coach in 2001.
Austin Healey recalled: “We thrashed them and drove into town and suddenly the bus was surrounded.
“They threw bottles and kebabs at us and one guy headbutted the front of the bus!”
