TWICKENHAM; home to wax jackets, 4x4s and hampers yet it has been England that have been the victims of snobbery so far this Six Nations.

Wales head to London as favourites to win the Triple Crown and inch closer towards a potential Grand Slam decider against France, and rightly so.

Warren Gatland's side have played some tremendous stuff and have plenty of potent attackers in their ranks.

They showed oodles of character to win against Ireland in Dublin and great quality to blitz Scotland with a three-try burst in Cardiff.

Two good wins, four points earned, job done.

The same could be said for England... apart from most are turning their noses up at their successes.

England have had just two games under their new, albeit temporary, boss yet some are already writing them off as the same old, same old.

Harsh considering they earned a victory against a fired-up Scotland at Murrayfield and came back from nine points down against Italy in woeful conditions in Rome.

Would Stuart Lancaster rather be in Scottish coach Andy Robinson's shoes, without a win and talking of good performances but the lack of a cutting edge? Of course not.

For some it seems that Charlie Hodgson's charge-down tries don't count (Gethin Jenkins v Ireland in 2005 anyone?); that kicking your penalties and not giving many away is a crime.

Granted, there has been precious little of the exciting brand of rugby that the appointment of Lancaster promised but their games have shown exactly why Saturday's encounter will be a tight one.

England have put in some excellent defensive work, combining real vim and vigour with a discipline that was lacking under Martin Johnson.

Wales will test them much more than the Scots or Italians but the English scramble defence was particularly noticeable at Murrayfield.

Add to that a solid set piece and the impressive, cool kicking of Owen Farrell and everything points to a close encounter.

It's a mystery how some have the notion of obliterating England at Twickenham (something only done by the All Blacks and Springboks in recent years) and even worse is Jonathan Davies' suggestion of seeing Wales “absolutely smash” them.

To head to London with that mentality would play into their hands and provide a chest-thumping spectacle akin to those in the Aviva Premiership.

The English top flight can be engrossing, competitive but is rarely free-flowing.

If there is one thing that they are comfortable with then it is chopping down big strong runners.

Thankfully most of the over-confidence, and dare I say it arrogance, has come from a section of Wales supporters.

Six Nations encounters are usually tight affairs and there will be no complacency from Gatland's squad who have been at pains all week to credit England for their results so far.

They know all too well how hard it is to win on the road in Test match rugby and would happily take a scrappy win in London, even one earned by a charge down.