England are preparing for the visit of Wales on Sunday convinced they can win this year's intensely competitive Six Nations championship. Warren Gatland's team still have their eyes on a third successive title but Stuart Lancaster believes England could yet replace them as champions if they perform to the same level as they did against Ireland.
To do so, Lancaster knows his side must win both their last two fixtures, against Wales and Italy, having been narrowly beaten by France in their first game of the tournament. Wales won the title last year after losing on the opening weekend and Lancaster feels England are capable of doing likewise, despite Ireland's currently superior points difference.
"If we can get the win on Sunday it is still within our capability," said Lancaster, who is set to name an unchanged starting XV. "We've used Wales as motivation … they lost their first game against Ireland yet went on to win the title. We understand the size of this game. If you have ambitions to win trophies – and we set those out at the start – then we have to win this weekend. We're well aware of that. Obviously Ireland have got a great opportunity given their points difference and their remaining fixtures but you can only control what you can control which, for us, is Wales."
Lancaster, accordingly, will spend the coming days stressing the need to concentrate on producing a quality performance, taking the view that the desired outcome will follow if England play well enough. "With these sorts of games you've got to concentrate more on the performance and the execution rather than being too specific about the result," said Lancaster. "We've also got to deal with the intensity and emotion of the occasion. All those things contribute to a winning performance; you tend to miss them if you're just focusing on the result."
Leicester's Manu Tuilagi will train with the national squad on Tuesday for the first time in almost exactly a year but, barring a dramatic injury crisis, the centre will not be involved in either of England's remaining Six Nations games.
He has made only two Premiership appearances this season and has not been involved with England since last year's defeat to Wales in Cardiff. "The reality is the side did well against Ireland and probably deserve another opportunity," said Lancaster, whose options have also been increased by the return to fitness of the London Irish wing Marland Yarde.
