Wales' Macleod ready for 'physical battle' against England in Six Nations / Photo: ROMAIN PERROCHEAU - AFP
-
Korea's Severe Asthma Patients Blocked from Biologics by Restrictive Reimbursement Rules
-
Belgium Signs Contract for 20 Rheinmetall Skyranger Air Defence Systems
-
Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Signs Pacts With London and Ottawa Institutions at CIIE
-
RBI Data Reveals Divergence in Credit Card Spending and Debit Card Cash Withdrawals
-
First-time boat buyers advised to assess full ownership costs
-
Panthers expected to begin 2027 NRL season away from new stadium
-
Planning and preparation can reduce stress of interstate relocation
-
Sweet As app launches restaurant discovery platform
-
Two more arrested in Carrie Mullane suspected murder investigation
-
Phoenix Restaurants Offer Thanksgiving Dinner to Go for Pickup
-
MLA seeks inquiry into reported sectarian gestures on Ormeau Road
-
Mayo school appeals for information after convent and chapel vandalism
-
Louise O’Reilly attacks Simon Harris over unemployment remarks
-
Virginia overwhelms Arkansas 91-72 behind balanced scoring
-
Canadian soldier Aidan Goulding remembered at Vancouver funeral
-
Second major storm brings destructive winds and outages to British Columbia
-
Tayyab Arif hits 57 on Pakistan Test debut against Sri Lanka
-
Godzilla Minus Zero leads North American box office with $31.6m
-
Robert Trujillo discusses literacy and social justice children’s books
-
Advocate calls for coordinated support for children facing trafficking
-
Civil rights advocate William Bill Tucker dies aged 98
-
Medicare Open Enrollment Ends Dec. 7: Review Your Coverage Options
-
Pennsylvania Democrats secure state trifecta in midterm elections
-
US Treasury order targets bank transfers linked to crypto exchange MEXC
-
Godzilla Minus Zero sets foreign-language box-office opening record
-
Nvidia CEO Controversy Sparks Fears of Tighter U.S. AI Chip Curbs for Samsung and SK hynix
-
Eagles record six sacks as rushing attack struggles against Giants
-
Villeneuve teases James Bond casting at Los Angeles museum gala
-
Thames Water seeks to delay £12bn in debt repayments
-
Nottinghamshire launches specialist rural crime policing team
-
Newark boxing gym expands alternative education programme
-
China confirms talks over possible Xi-Putin-Trump summit
-
Democrats consider impeachment drive against Defence Secretary Hegseth
-
Rail journey offers a slower route to a Berlin city break
-
Energy bill plan could use HMRC income data to target support
-
Arsenal control title race as Manchester United fall into bottom three
-
Business owner earning £6,000 a month tackles £70,000 debt
-
Suspected Krakow gunman dies after attack that killed six
-
Nvidia chief faces inquiry after disclosing affair with suspected Chinese agent
-
Carrick backs Dalot after hostile reception from Manchester United fans
-
Comet returns as online electrical marketplace 14 years after collapse
-
Aston Villa Defy History With Rare Victory at Old Trafford
Wales' Macleod ready for 'physical battle' against England in Six Nations
Wales flanker Josh Macleod believes his struggling side's Six Nations opener away to in-form England on Saturday could provide the intense physical encounter they need to spring a surprise.
England go into the game as overwhelming favourites given they are on a run of 11 straight wins -- a sequence that includes a record 68-14 thrashing of Wales in Cardiff in March last year.
By contrast, Wales have lost 21 of their last 23 Tests, with the only two wins coming against Japan, and are beset by domestic problems amid a bitter row over plans by the Welsh Rugby Union to reduce the number of the nation's professional clubs from four to three.
Macleod, however, is adamant Wales will not back down in what promises to be the 29-year-old Scarlets back-row forward's Six Nations debut should he be included in coach Steve Tandy's team, due to be announced on Thursday.
"I enjoy... the physical battle, the confrontation," said Macleod on Wednesday. "It's the fight that often pulls you out of situations where you're on the back foot.
"There wasn't much difference between the two sides (Northampton beat Scarlets 43-28) when we played in the Champions Cup recently.
"There is always that physical edge in Anglo-Welsh matches.
"We are there, we'll look after our own house, and whatever they throw at us we will be ready."
Macleod was denied a Six Nations debut against Scotland in 2021 after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in training, shortly after his inclusion in the starting team was announced to the squad.
He then had to wait until the 2022 Autumn clash against Georgia to win the first of his Test caps, although an appearance in the Six Nations has so far remained elusive.
"If it (selection) came it would be an unbelievable honour and Saturday would be a pretty special occasion for me personally," said Macleod.
"I've no intentions of wrapping myself up in cotton wool (this week). Obviously you don't know what's coming on the weekend, so you prepare as normal."
Macleod, asked how Wales might contain England, replied: "We've got systems in place to deal with certain aspects of the game, but there's a hell of a load of talent in our team as well.
"Let's not shy away from that. We've got a pack that are willing to fight for each other. Fight for every inch."
Ch.Havering--AMWN