England are just one day away from their return to Twickenham, as they host Wales in round two of the 2024 Six Nations tomorrow afternoon. England tight-head prop Will Stuart and scrum coach Tom Harrison rounded off the week of media events, ahead of tomorrow's battle with Warren Gatland's side.
As expected, the prop and scrum coach talked all things crouch, bind and set, including a look at the U20s talents that are progressing in the U20s Six Nations.
5 TALKING POINTS: WILL STUART AND TOM HARRISON PRE MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE - ENGLAND VS WALES - 2024 SIX NATIONS
1. ENGLAND'S RIVALRY WITH WALES AND WILL STUART'S 'FAKE WELSH' FRIEND
WILL STUART: "I’ve got an old school friend who supports Wales and pretends he’s Welsh. He used to get aggressively annoyed when England beat Wales. Now he’s got mixed loyalties! Him and his family say they’re Welsh but I’m not 100% sure. It was ingrained in me from watching England Wales games with them how much it meant."
"It’s massive. (England v Wales) Loads is made of the rivalry but they’re a great side and keep battling. That’s part of the DNA we pride ourselves on as well. It’s about focusing on ourselves. You don’t want to be dragged into a certain way of playing. You focus on yourselves. It’s always a big occasion."
TOM HARRISON: "It’s an interesting assumption to presume they would have an extra desire than us. There is rivalry both ways."
2. THE FORWARD BATTLE - STUART RECOGNISES KEIRON ASSIRATTI'S SKILLS
WILL STUART: "He’s a good player. I played against him in the first couple of caps he had and then against Cardiff this season. He’s a good scrummager. They’ve also got Archie Griffin who is at Bath with me. It’s his first cap. He’s another young lad with a big future. They’re good players."
TOM HARRISON: "We’re concentrating on what we can do well and that’s getting to the contest. They’ve got some good players in that group. They’ve got some good young players and some good experience. What we’re focusing on this week is getting to the contest."
"In every game of rugby the forward battle is huge. If you get your maul and scrum on top you can control the game. I think with the weather implications that’s just heightened."
3. TOM HARRISON SPEAKING WITH ENGLAND U20 SCRUM COACH NATHAN CATT
TOM HARRISON: "I think, as a coach in any sport, especially in one where you're always looking to develop and push on. It’s a platform to build off, but I think the key thing is when… and I’ve worked hard with Nathan Catt with this in the 20s program and the next players coming up, is ensuring that there is a pipeline of front rows that are coming through, and they grow, and grow, and grow and grow, especially around getting to the contest."
"In camp I speak to him once a week, outside the camp it’s twice or three times a week we will spend. So, international coaching in and out of camp is a lot of driving and a lot of going to clubs and I’ll phone around. I’ll speak to you (Will Stuart), Tuesday at 4pm every single week.
"A lot of that time, what I would do is, if I was going to visit the Bath and Bristol areas, I’d meet Nathan as well. I’d make sure that we are aligned in what we are trying to coach, and keeping, and challenging each other with our coaching and he’s doing a fantastic job at the moment."
"I’m excited by the guys coming through, but I’m excited by the guys that we’ve got. I’m making sure go at our own pace, and we take as much as we can from the guys that could be moving on, or coming into the group to make sure that the England set-piece and the England scrum continues to move forward over the next few years."
4. THE INFLUENCE OF DAN COLE AND JOE MARLER IN THE ENGLAND CAMP
TOM HARRISON: "Steve picked the team which he thought is the best team to go out and win, and that’s the team that’s been picked for this game. In terms of having them (Dan Cole and Joe Marler) around, brilliant, what they realise is how they can enjoy the environment as well.
"As it is intense, and it is a demanding environment but they’re also showing the young lads actually how you can enjoy yourself, to the point that they may be more excited to play rugby. In terms of mentoring the younger players, they’ve been brilliant. Will’s always speaking to Dan. Sometimes not always about scrums, but they are always speaking to each other."
5. INJURY NEWS - ELLIS GENGE IS READY TO PLAY AGAINST WALES
TOM HARRISON: "Yep, everyone’s good to go." (in the match day 23).
"Yeah (Ellis Genge is) good. Did a full week of training and been scrummaging well. Good to go."
