The next fortnight feels like the final sprint of the Six Nations marathon. Rob Howley hit the nail on the head when he pulled us together and told us our championship starts now. After a funny start, which was all about getting that first win, now we have a chance to defend our crown. It is a massive ask but we will do everything we can to pull the rabbit out the hat.
We cannot forget that against Scotland we have to try to win the game before we start thinking about points. Yes we want to show our cutting edge, and the more points we score the better our chance of winning the tournament, but you will not beat Scotland at Murrayfield by thinking about scoring tries in the first 10 minutes.
Keeping grounded: George North knows that if Wales are to win against Scotland it will be a hard-fought oneScotland only had the ball for 12 minutes and 30 seconds and they still beat Ireland. We respect that hugely because we also pride ourselves on dogged defence and massive physicality. In some games it is what you do without the ball that is more important. From the first minute of matches we focus on our work-rate. With or without the ball, you have to get in position and work yourself to the ground.
Triumph in the face of adversity: Scotland emerged victorious despite Ireland's possession and overwhelming territorial advantageTheir back three of Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland and Tim Visser will certainly keep up us busy and I’m looking forward to that challenge. They offer out-and-out gas and are working well together. I’ve faced Visser a few times at club level and he’s an outstanding player, a natural try-scorer. Our job as a three is to negate that weapon and try to keep them quiet. But it isn’t just them to worry about, Sean Lamont is a big beast of a centre. He’s a massive unit and Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies will have a job stopping him.
Hands full: Tim Visser (centre) and Stuart Hogg (right) will ask questionsThe continuity in selection in the back line gives us such a solid platform. You notice the habits of team-mates and run better support lines because you know what type of pass they tend to look for. Right now, the problem with the forwards is there seems to be too much talent! To be able to drop Justin Tipuric and Andrew Coombs for Sam Warburton and Alun-Wyn Jones shows talent is oozing out the scrum. They bring different attributes for different matches. It should be seen as a luxury, not a headache.
Pool of talent: Andrew Coombs has been outstanding as lockSam is one of the most natural athletes, most natural competitors I have met. He definitely wins the mental rucker of the year award. He takes everything in his stride, nothing panics him. His job has been made harder because Justin Tipuric has been outstanding but the battle brings the best out of all of us. The chance of being dropped keeps everybody on their toes.
No nonsense: Sam Warburton (right) is up for the battle on and off the pitchI’ve never played a Test at Murrayfield, only for the Scarlets when it isn’t at capacity so it will be a lot louder. The stands are quite far back so the supporters are a distance from the pitch but I’m told the cheers echo off each stand so it will be noisy on the flanks. I know our supporters love going to Edinburgh because the streets of the city are similar to Cardiff on matchday. The atmosphere will be crackling.
Home support: Scotland fans will be in good voice at MurrayfieldAfter Becky James won her two golds and two bronzes at the Track World Championships, Ryan Jones tweeted that I was now only the second best athlete in the relationship — it’s not true! Well, I guess we’ll have to race to find out. I’m still overwhelmed for her because I know how bad her injuries were and how tough it was to spend the Olympics in a training camp while the rest of the world was enjoying London 2012. I was out on the field playing in Rome and came into the changing rooms to check my phone and found out that Becky was a world champion. We’ve both shared the lows of professional sport — when you have to stay strong in the dark times — and then the rewards become all the sweeter because you have fought so hard for it.
Golden girl: Becky James won two world titles in MinskWe got to spend a couple of days together but now she’s on holiday sunbathing in Argentina. I know what it’s like when your muscles and your body are empty, it’s how I felt after the World Cup, and it’s good for her to go and recharge. My day off was spent as usual – eating and seeing friends. Although I did go for a haircut. Not a buzz cut but just to get my curls cut back so they don’t slow me down or get a caught in a ruck or anything!
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