Howley isn’t talking about commitment levels as the Championship heads towards its climax but is instead referring to the increase in performance he reckons will lead to another wonderful win in London.
And the Wales backs coach hopes that the experience his side have picked up in big games over recent seasons will ensure they are able to do just that when it really matters this weekend.
“In normal games of this magnitude your performance has to go up 10-15 per cent, and an experienced team is hopefully able to go to that 10 or 15 per cent because you have been there before,” said Howley.
“This group of players has been together for a period of time now. They have played and won away from home and that obviously gives you confidence.
“We’ve spoken coming into this Championship about winning three in a row. It’s a Triple Crown match for them and it’s a game we need to win to stay in the Championship.
“I keep talking about the Six Nations and the results over the last three rounds: it’s all on the day. It’s a totally different game one week to the next and I suppose it is the side that gains momentum and then, under that pressure of the cauldron of Twickenham, is able to continue the momentum.”
England boss Stuart Lancaster has called on the Twickenham faithful to produce a repeat of the red hot atmosphere that took hold during their win over Ireland a fortnight ago and Howley is expecting nothing less in South West London.
But Wales have won in hostile atmospheres on their way to Grand Slams under Howley and Warren Gatland in 2008 and 2012 and during last year’s Championship triumph and the former scrum half sees no reason why they can’t do the same if they are at their best tomorrow afternoon.
“I’m sure the atmosphere is going to be similar to last year in Cardiff but very much England-loaded,” added Howley.
“As players we have to deal with that, and the more experience you have of going away and winning, hopefully you become automated and are able to switch off that outside influence and be very tunnel-visioned in terms of your skill-set, technically and tactically. That’s the challenge for us on the weekend.”
Wales lost Luke Charteris to injury after the Perpignan lock had been named in the starting XV on Tuesday but Howley has no doubt that his replacement, Jake Ball, will step up to the plate, just as he did against France in Round 3.
Ball shone on his first start in Cardiff after Alun Wyn Jones’ late withdrawal and Howley is hoping for more of the same when he lines up against Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes for cap number three.
“It is a great opportunity for Jake. I thought he was outstanding in the nuts and bolts of his game against France. He played against two experienced second-rows in (Pascal) Pape and (Yoann) Maestri, and he came through with flying colours.
“The one thing you need in international rugby is to concentrate on your own game, and that’s what he did really well against France. In terms of his work-rate, his ball-carrying game, you couldn’t ask any more for his first start, and I am sure he will just want to replicate that at Twickenham.”
