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Williams inspired by dark days

Veteran Williams will win his 92nd Wales cap against England at Twickenham © Getty Images

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Wales veteran Martyn Williams insists the dark days of damage limitation at Twickenham are firmly in the past.

The 34-year-old flanker shared in a decade of hurt at England's HQ including a 60-26 reverse in his Five Nations Championship bow in 1998. But he was also part of the historic 26-19 success in 2008 that brought an end to nine successive Twickenham championship defeats and kick-started Wales' Grand Slam campaign.

But in the ten years prior to that memorable triumph, Wales conceded 328 points during a run of one-sided fixtures that saw England triumph by an average scoreline of 36-12 on home soil. "My first game in the Six Nations was against England and we lost 60-26," said Williams, who completed his second tour with the British & Irish Lions last summer. "There were other times when we lost by 50 points. They were that much fitter, stronger and faster than us - they were miles in front off the field as well as on the field.

"Then, it was a really difficult place to visit because you knew you were on a hiding when you travelled there." But Williams added, "Those days are well and truly behind us. We went there two years ago with a lot more experience in our side and played well. To achieve our first win there for 20 years was nice, as well as getting that monkey off our backs. But it is still a difficult place to go. They are very strong there, and they have a lot of boys back from injury.

"Not many sides win at Twickenham, especially in the Six Nations. Look at what they did to France last year (England won 34-10). It was great for us two years ago, but that's in the past now. They are missing a few in the front row, but you look at the back five and it is hugely influential with loads of experience. Whenever you play England up front, it's one of the toughest games you will play in all year."

Coach Warren Gatland also believes that his side have nothing to fear despite having recorded only one victory at Twickenham since 1988. "It is a tough competition. England at home are always tough to beat," he said. "In the last two years in the Six Nations we have won eight out of 10 games, and the two games we lost we could have won. In terms of our Six Nations form, eight out of 10 victories is not a bad return from our first two years together.

"We have got to go into this campaign, even though we have been written off by a lot of people, with some confidence and self-belief. A lot of the players represented the Lions last year and did well. When you play away from home it's tough, and our record in the last number of years isn't great at Twickenham. But we have got to go there with the belief that if we play well enough on the day, we are good enough to win."

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