MARK Taylor gives fans heading to Twickenham today for the England-Wales Six Nations showdown a 20-minute warning.
England coach Sir Clive Woodward has increased the temperature this week by saying Wales are the side he most wants to beat.
And Taylor, the Llanelli Scarlets and former Pontypool centre who wins his 46th cap, believes that whoever scores first will win the game.
"If they score early on we can expect to be on the receiving end of a flowing England performance," he said.
"But if we score first anything can happen. Whoever scores first can expect to win the game, the first 20 minutes should determine it.
"England are still a great side though they are coming off a loss and their back three have got plenty of pace.
"Jason Robinson adds a bit of the unexpected and they've got the type of backline that could expose any mistake."
Taylor has played at Twickenham just once, in 2000 when Wales were well beaten 46-12. "My abiding memory is how they ran away with it by the time we got to the last 20 minutes when they turned the screw," he said.
Though Taylor has played there only once in his long career he knows all about the ground and what to expect.
"It's the Englishness of the place, they are so confident playing there and it was a big shock to see Ireland win there," he said.
"But they know how to play there and they tend to cut loose. That is something we have got to match, for us to win there has got to be an 80-minute performance."
* For full story see today's Argus
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article