We can win,says Howley

Howley is hurt that everyone believes Wales are on to a hiding to nothing and even the thought of losing by ten points leaves him with a nasty taste in his mouth.

"Everyone except the players and management expect us to be second. If we lose by ten points we will all be bitterly disappointed," he said.

"There is a belief here that there are two sides taking to the field and that we stand a chance," a determined Howley thundered.

But he warned: "It's important we do not concede in the opening 20 minutes. Play starts up front and we have to make sure our lineout and scrum are 100%. We have to throw to areas in the lineout where we can win our ball and we want to play field possession and keep our own ball."

Howley exploded on to the international scene in 1996 - against England at Twickenham - scoring a sensational try and it's a day he remembers well. "My stud came off about two minutes before going on - it was panic stations. It was a great memory to score on my debut," he confessed.

Since then Wales, with the odd exception, have been beaten by a succession of rampant English sides, and Howley admits every one of their star-studded squad poses a threat. "It says something when you have the likes of Matt Dawson and Mike Catt on the bench. England are a fantastic team, especially at Twickenham, and I think Jonny Wilkinson sums them up as a side.

"He has a great understanding of the game," Howley revealed. But Howley remains confident England can be beaten.

"I believe there may be an element of doubt in their side," he said. "Questions have been asked in the media and there may be a nagging doubt saying 'can we perform after the game against France?' They won't make the same mistakes twice, but we believe we can win."

Outside half Stephen Jones is still having back spasms, so Cardiff's Nick Robinson travels with the Wales senior squad with Iestyn Harris set to play if Jones fails a fitness test in the morning.