My simple message for England: get the ball into Arundell's hands early against Wales | Ugo Monye

"Optimism abounds about England's Six Nations chances. They go into a tournament considered as one of the genuine favourites for the title for the first time in years and they have the body of work to back that up after 11 consecutive victories. That sort of winning streak leads to greater expectations but these players can walk tall and handle external pressure."

"The fixture list aligns perfectly for England if Steve Borthwick were to handpick his side's schedule then this would probably be it and while I fully expect them to beat Wales and claim a bonus point, we have to remember that they are never at their best at the start of a campaign. The Professional Game Partnership might have made some aspects of bringing together players from 10 different clubs an easier task,"

"It's an opportunity to fully get everyone on to the same page before going up against Scotland at Murrayfield which will quite simply make or break England's campaign. Win it, end their poor recent run in Edinburgh and England are perfectly set for a tilt at the title. Come unstuck again and history is repeating itself for Borthwick's side, the progression becomes harder to see and this team remains a work in progress."

"Supporters clearly expect more than that but England have been making the right noises so far about handling that pressure. Borthwick has been talking about how Wales will play, he has mentioned that he expects them to kick a lot, which seems to me to be taken straight out of the Jose Mourinho playbook, and the messaging has impressed me. England haven't shied away from the expectation."

England arrive at the Six Nations with strong momentum, having won 11 straight matches and being viewed as genuine title favourites. The opening fixture against Wales presents a favourable start and offers a chance to align the squad and secure a bonus point, but England rarely show their best form early in campaigns. The Professional Game Partnership eases player assembly, yet blending players from ten clubs remains challenging. The Scotland trip to Murrayfield is pivotal: a win would set up a serious title tilt, while a defeat would stall progression and repeat past struggles.

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