Jason Robinson knows all about being on the receiving end of major sporting upsets.

If you believe the bookmakers - and every current form guide - then Saturday's RBS 6 Nations Championship clash between Wales and England in Cardiff is engulfed by inevitability.

England, unbeaten in the Welsh capital since 1993 and averaging almost 47 points a time during the previous three Six Nations meetings, are an unbackable 1/16 chance, with Wales unfancied at 7/1.

Wales coach Steve Hansen has also changed half his team following the demoralising 30-22 defeat against Italy last weekend, and recalled hooker Jonathan Humphreys as captain - almost six years after he last did the job.

Rarely can Wales have been written off in such a fashion - against any opponent, let alone England - with the doom-and-gloom merchants confidently predicting a rout.

Robinson, though, has already experienced a similar situation in his glittering career.

And the outcome on that occasion is still remembered as one of rugby league's greatest shocks.

Wigan could not possibly lose the 1998 Challenge Cup final at Wembley.

Players like Robinson, Kris Radlinski, Gary Connolly, Henry Paul and Andy Farrell were a class or two above anything that underdogs Sheffield Eagles had to offer, and the bookies thought so as well, quoting Wigan at 1/14, with Sheffield 13/2 against.

What happened? Sheffield won 17-8.

"We were favourites, and Sheffield were the underdogs by far," recalled Robinson.

"To many people, it was a foregone conclusion, but on the day, they whooped us.

"Sheffield knew they had nothing to lose. They could go out there and enjoy it, which they did.

"That's the good thing about sport - nothing is guaranteed. You've got to work hard for everything you get.

"I remember it was a horrible feeling in the dressing room afterwards. As a player, you never want to lose, and especially in the big games on a big stage, and that will be no different this week."

Saturday's encounter will provide England full-back Robinson with a first crack at the Welsh senior team since he switched codes permanently in November 2000, and he expects a thorough test.

He played in the A international between the countries two years ago, and was sidelined by injury when Wales lost 50-10 at Twickenham last season.

Needless to say, Robinson is relishing one of the northern hemisphere's great rugby occasions.

"This will be my first time playing against Wales, and at the Millennium Stadium," he added. "Wales have produced some outstanding talent down the years.

"At the moment, they are obviously disappointed, especially with their opening game against Italy, but what motivation for them to turn things around and beat us.

"We are aware of that, and we know it is going to be a tough game, despite what everyone is saying. With sport, you never know what happens.

"We want to make up for the way we played in the last 20 minutes against France.

"We will look to make sure that we play the right game - for 80 minutes, instead of 60.

"We are obviously happy with the win against France last Saturday, that was the main thing, but you can't just be happy with that. We know that there are a lot of improvements to be made.

"We lost our way a bit during the last 20 minutes, and we are far from the finished article, but we are improving with every game."

And Robinson, whose transition from league to union has proved an outstanding success story both for club and country, has backed Wales' own league convert - Iestyn Harris.

Harris is among several players dropped following last Saturday's humiliating Italian job, but he could still play a part this weekend off the replacements' bench.

"I've no doubt in Iestyn's ability," said Robinson. "I've played against him in league and I know that he is a great player.

"Iestyn was thrown in at the deep end when he moved from league - he probably had the whole weight of Welsh rugby union on his back - and it was a shame in a way.

"People expected miracles in such a short space of time.

"For me, it was a bit different, because I came into a team that was really confident.

"I was on the bench for the first three games, and introduced slowly into it. For Iestyn, he was thrown straight into it, and it was sink or swim.

"But there is no doubt that he is a class player - he is always someone that you have got to keep a close eye on."