England prop Ellis Genge says he expects Wales to be dangerous, even though they have struggled recently, when the rivals meet in their Six Nations opener on Saturday.
Wales have won just two of their last 22 Tests since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and problems off the field continue with changes to their domestic game. Several top Welsh players, including Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Aaron Wainwright, are set to join English clubs, while others are already playing in the Premiership.
Because of this, bookmakers have Wales as big outsiders, with 28-1 odds to beat England at Twickenham. But Genge warned that the situation could actually bring Wales together.
He said that when teams face pressure behind the scenes, it can unite them, and there is no bigger motivation than playing England. Genge described Wales as a team that may be “damaged” but still very dangerous.
Wales’ new head coach Steve Tandy is preparing for his first Six Nations after previously working with Scotland. Genge believes a heavy 73-0 loss to South Africa last autumn does not tell the full story, as the match was played outside the international window and Wales were missing key players.
Instead, he pointed to Wales’ performance against New Zealand, where they stayed competitive for much of the game, as a better sign of their true level.
Genge said England respect Wales’ quality and expect a fierce contest, adding that once the teams step onto the pitch, the outside noise will not matter.
