Wales’ Prem talent has England ‘scratching heads’

Leicester prop Nicky Smith says Wales’ Prem talent has England players “scratching heads” over Welsh international struggles.

Steve Tandy’s side hunt their first Six Nations win since March 2023 when they take on England in London on Saturday (16:40 GMT).

Wales have had a torrid time on the Test stage since the 2023 World Cup, winning just two of their past 23 fixtures and enduring two successive Six Nations whitewashes.

Sale-bound Smith is one of 11 Wales players who play their club rugby over the border, among them Bristol wing Louis Rees-Zammit and influential Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins.

“I can see enough quality to know that we have nothing to fear,” said the 31-year-old loose-head who was named in last season’s Prem team of the year along with Gloucester’s Tomos Williams, who won player of the season.

“If we put our best foot forward then I am full of confidence that we can get a positive result.

There is also the prospect of a Tigers duel at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium with Smith – who is battling Rhys Carre and Gareth Thomas for Wales’ loose-head jersey – facing a potential scrum showdown with clubmate Joe Heyes.

The Leicester tight-head enjoyed a breakthrough 2025 in international rugby and is a vital figure for England in the absence of the injured Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour.

“Over the last 18 months he has been one of the in-form tight-heads in the world,” said Smith about his friend.

“He has been unbelievable with his work for Tigers and England – around the park he is an absolute nuisance at the ruck, he is good with ball in hand and with his tackling and physicality.

It will be a first Six Nations as boss for Tandy, who left his role as Scotland defence coach last summer to return to Wales.

There were flashes of encouragement in what was ultimately a tough autumn campaign that featured heavy losses to Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa and a last-kick win against Japan.

Smith insists that brighter times are ahead, saying “the sky is the limit”, but that starts by being consistently competitive against European rivals.

“In the autumn, let’s not beat around the bush, the results weren’t good enough, but there were moments where the boys shone and showed what we can do,” said the former Osprey.

“Can we repeat that? Can we do it again and again? With a new coaching set-up and boys coming in, we were getting aligned and we are certainly going in the right direction.”

Wales ended last season’s dismal Six Nations campaign with a record 68-14 defeat to England in Cardiff but Smith insists this year’s opener in London is not a foregone conclusion.

“We want to hit the ground running in the Six Nations and get back to being in games.