Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions | ‘Mind the Gap’ – the quest for Hannah Jones and her Wales team

England lead the table thanks to a superior try count and points difference, but whoever wins today will be out in front in the battle to win the title. France are also unbeaten, on nine points, but don’t play their Round 3 match against Scotland until tomorrow.

It was a similar situation last year, when both teams came into the Anglo-Welsh clash at Kingsholm unbeaten. But you get the sense that this year, especially with a capacity home crowd to roar them on at the Arms Park, there could be a better outcome than the 58-5, 10 tries to one outcome that saw the Red Roses take another step towards a Grand Slam.

Wales wing Lisa Neumann

“Every time we come up against England, we know it’s going to be a huge physical challenge. They are one of the best teams in the world,” said Wales wing Lisa Neumann.

“This is going to be a test for us to see where we are in our second year of professionalism. For us, it is all about closing the gap on England and we are excited by the prospect of seeing if we have done that.”

The England team went pro in 2018 and are ahead of the curve in that sense compared to their Celtic cousins. They also have far greater playing resources, although the Allianz Premier15s is full of Welsh players who week in, week out show themselves to be the match for some of the most accomplished of professionals in the game.

Once again, the Triple Crown is up for grabs for Wales and a third win over the English would bridge a gap between their last success in 2015 and today. There have only been two wins over England in the past, in 2009 and 2015.

There has been some chat about the last win eight years ago, led by Sioned Harries, Carys Phillips, Elinor Snowsill, Keira Bevan and Kerin Lake, who were all in the matchday 23 on that famous day at St Helen’s, Swansea.

“We aren’t as physically big as the English side, but technically and tactically we hope to come through. What we lack in size we more than make up for in heart and mentality,” said Wales back rower, Beth Lewis.

Lewis is one of 14 Welsh players who play for Gloucester-Hartpury in the Premier15s, and she shares a house with the England centre Tatynana Heard. Heard helped Cardiff Met win the BUCS title in 2016 and also played for Pontyclun Falcons during her time in Wales.

Clun and house mates they may be, but the channels of communication have been down since the tournament started. There will be no quarter given, or asked for, when they meet up today.

It will be the same for Wales skipper Hannah Jones, who regularly plays alongside Heard at club level. Her job will be to keep Heard, who has scored in both of England’s opening wins over Scotland and Italy. To keep her quiet.

“We have built up momentum in the opening two rounds and we want to build on that against England. We are all confident in our roles and we can’t wait for the challenge,” said Lewis.

Wales back row star Beth Lewis

“We have had professional contracts for just over a year now, but we are realistic in our goals. They have allowed us to spend more time together as a team, have more recovery time and delve deep into analysis.

“We won’t be looking at this game any differently to any other, the process will stay the same. The win in 2015 has been mentioned a few times in the build-up and we all know we have to front up and take the challenge to them.”