Thomas: We can beat the English!

The Ebbw Vale loosehead was pleased with his and the front row's performance in the 44-10 win over Italy on Saturday and admitted: "It was hugely important to get a win to build confidence ahead of the England game.

"We needed it, and the fans needed it as well, to kick-start the championship." But he added: "England lost to France, so it will be an even tougher game at Twickenham.

"I think they'll come at us with a greater intensity to try to make up for that result. "Every England-Wales game is hugely important and both teams will be up for it and I know they'll be looking for a bit of a backlash.

"But they seem to slip up every season and there's no reason why we can't do it again in three weeks."

Of the Italy game, he said: "Every game you strive to get better and there were patches where things didn't go our way, but we can build on our display.

"I thought we were pretty dominant up front and in the front row and on the whole it was positive.

"We gave away one of two penalties, but overall we had the upper hand. "It wasn't as physical as expected but it was still a tough game. "It was part of the plan to try to run the ball a bit more and I thought the boys did really well and showed what they can do.

"All the backs were superb, punching holes in the defence and getting over the gain line and scoring some nice tries."

Thomas himself almost got on the scoresheet in the 14th minute with a charge to the line. "I thought I was going to make it," he smiled, "but it wasn't to be and I was about half a metre short."

Meanwhile, Swansea flanker Colin Charvis, out of favour since taking a family holiday before the Ireland game in Dublin, is back in the Wales squad for the match on March 23. He has been added to those on duty against Italy along with Bridgend centre Gareth Thomas, Neath prop Duncan Jones and Bath flanker Gavin Thomas.

Tom Shanklin, who suffered a dead leg against Italy, says he will be fit.