Wigglesworth: We must put a World Cup marker down in Cardiff

Wales face England in the opening game of the 2015 RBS Six Nations this weekend in Cardiff, a monumental clash at the quietest of times, but just seven and a half months before they meet in Pool A of the 2015 Rugby World Cup at Twickenham, the intrigue surrounding the game is even higher.

When asked about the tournament later this year and the impact it will have this weekend, England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth admits it cannot be ignored.

“The World Cup is in the back of all our minds,” says the Saracens player. “We want to put a marker down individually and more importantly as a team. But everyone’s just trying to get it right for the next game. There’s a lot of rugby between now and the World Cup and if you focus too far ahead it would be a big mistake.”

Danny Care and Ben Youngs have won the majority of the caps at scrum half for England in the last five years but Stuart Lancaster has dropped both players due to dips in form, most recently when Danny Care was released from the squad for the final two autumn internationals of 2014.

Wigglesworth is very much back in the international frame following a number of consistent performances for Saracens in the Aviva Premiership and Champions Cup, and the former Sale man, whilst quick to heap praise on his two colleagues, is determined to force his way into England’s starting line-up.

“They are both fine players with a great amount of experience but starting has to be the aim for every player. It’s definitely one of the positions Stuart and the coaching staff think long and hard about as it’s such a crucial selection to get right. From my point of view I know what I want to achieve and hopefully I’ll do enough to get noticed.”

The last time England played in Cardiff their day of destiny quickly turned into a day of despair. In search of a first Grand Slam since 2003, Stuart Lancaster’s men were on the receiving end of a 30-3 record defeat. Not only was another Grand Slam lost but the Championship also stayed in Wales, such was the huge swing in points difference at the final whistle.

“What’s been has been. It was a bad day for England. Wales were great that day but it doesn’t have much bearing on Friday night’s result.”

Whoever is chosen as England’s scrum half will be up against a formidable opponent and one of the form players in European rugby this season. After a string of standout displays for the Ospreys, Rhys Webb has made the Welsh number nine shirt his own, at the expense of Lions star Mike Phillips, and Wigglesworth is quick to laud the Bridgend born star.

“He’s a quality player – one of the main reasons the Ospreys are top of the PRO12. He’s getting better and better and we’ll have to keep a very close eye on him.”

With certain sections of the media writing off England’s chances in this year’s Six Nations due to their heavy load of injuries and a difficult fixture list – that includes a tricky visit to Dublin as well as this weekend’s game in Cardiff – Stuart Lancaster’s side will have taken a great deal of heart from the efforts of the England Saxons on Friday night, after John Callard’s men beat the Irish Wolfhounds 18-9 in Cork.

Wigglesworth was quick to praise England’s second team and he was particularly impressed with one of his Saracens team mates, England U20 Junior Rugby World Cup winning captain Maro Itoje.

“It was a superb win by the lads. Maro Itoje is going to make big waves in the game. To come off the bench and play like he did for seventy minutes was hugely impressive and it was a great performance by the side against an experienced Irish Wolfhounds team.”

Wigglesworth and his senior squad mates will have to work hard to replicate in Cardiff this weekend the kind of gritty win the Saxons produced on Friday.

By Alistair Pickering (@AMP_Rugby)

Get behind the scenes news from Richard Wigglesworth and his England team-mates throughout the RBS 6 Nations with O2 Inside Line. First video goes live on Thursday 5th February. Search O2 Inside Line

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images