Wales v England: John Terry gives pep talk to Eddie Jones' team

By Chris JonesBBC rugby union correspondent

Last updated on 19 February 2019.From the section English Rugby324

England coach Richard Hill (left) and former Chelsea defender John Terry — Former Chelsea defender John Terry (right) and England team manager Richard Hill in discussion at Bagshot

Six Nations: Wales v England
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 23 February Kick-off: 16:45 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC One, S4C, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app, plus live text commentary.

England's rugby players have been given a pep talk by former footballer John Terry before the crunch Six Nations clash with Wales in Cardiff.

The ex-England captain spent the morning at the Bagshot training base, exchanging ideas on issues such as leadership and motivation with both players and coaches.

"The players were really engaged by talking to him," forwards coach Steve Borthwick told BBC Sport.

"He gave some great messages."

Borthwick, who also confirmed lock Maro Itoje would miss the game in Cardiff with his knee problem, said the England camp had been able to relate to Terry's experience as a player and a coach.

"He spoke about the traits in the highly successful teams he has been a part of, which are consistent with the type of thing we talk about: the competitiveness, the drive in training, players taking responsibility," Borthwick added.

"Those are the themes we discussed and that is what we want to drive here."

Borthwick said Terry, who is a coach at Championship side Aston Villa, had emphasised the importance of a strong leadership core in successful sporting teams, with England boss Eddie Jones often stressing the need for his side to develop in this area.

"We spoke about the leadership density, and he spoke about the strength of that within the teams he has been part of," Borthwick said.

"All the successful teams have had a great group of leaders; that is something we are well aware of and continue to try and develop."

Winger Joe Cokanasiga, who made a try-scoring comeback for Bath on Saturday after two months out with a knee injury, is in contention to face Wales after coach Eddie Jones cut his 33-man squad to 25 players.

Jones will finalise his starting XV and replacements on Thursday morning.

England squad

Forwards: Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), T Curry (Sale Sharks), Ewels (Bath Rugby), Genge (Leicester Tigers), George (Saracens), Hughes (Wasps), Kruis (Saracens), Launchbury (Wasps), Lawes (Northampton Saints), Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Shields (Wasps), Sinckler (Harlequins), B Vunipola (Saracens), Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).

Backs: Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Daly (Wasps), Farrell (Saracens, captain), Ford (Leicester Tigers), May (Leicester Tigers), Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Robson (Wasps), Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Te'o (Worcester Warriors), Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), B Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

Released: Brown (Harlequins), Cole (Leicester Tigers), Devoto (Exeter Chiefs), Earl (Saracens), Ewels (Bath Rugby), Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Singleton (Worcester Warriors), Thorley (Gloucester Rugby).

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324 comments

Comment posted by Araucaria, at 14:18 19 Feb 2019
They managed quite well without him against France.
Comment posted by Humakt, at 14:33 19 Feb 2019
Why are so many English fans saying it will be a walk in the park this weekend against Wales? The Welsh always play their best games against the English, and Millennium Stadium is a tricky place to win. I am hoping for an Enlgish win, but stop crowing about winning the game before the teams are even announced!
Comment posted by User0676266253, at 14:16 19 Feb 2019
Good, he should be allowed to recover properly ready for Japan. The 6N's is a great, important Tournament but the RWC surely is the pinnacle of a players career?
Comment posted by Nikolai, at 15:48 19 Feb 2019
JT's Top Tips:
1. If the disabled parking space is available, use it.
2. To non-playing members: always have your kit ready to pop on for the trophy presentation.
3. Whilst the lads are on the pitch, see if any WAGS are up for a quickie.
Comment posted by Steve Duddridge, at 14:18 19 Feb 2019
Big boost for Wales, MI has a presence similar to our own AWJ. However, looking at the engine room, how many other sides would Lawes be a first choice in. Excellent replacement and ENG still favourites for the game (and title) for me.
Comment posted by bentyger, at 14:21 19 Feb 2019
Hard lines England, he's a class performer.

To be fair though, the one place you can pretty much guarantee England always have cover is up front.
Comment posted by eggman, at 14:41 19 Feb 2019
I don't understand how some fellow Englishmen can say that this is a foregone conclusion? Wales, even at their worst, always find an extra 100% to turn up against us, especially at home.
Wales are yet to fire (but very easily could against England) and would deserve the win against a rampant England just as much as England deserving to go to Wales' back yard and get a win (comprehensive or not)
Comment posted by He said what, at 16:16 19 Feb 2019
I'm sorry but John Terry giving the English Rugby team a pep talk is a bit like an A Level Physics teacher trying to give Stephen Hawkings a lecture about black holes.
Comment posted by U17530088, at 14:46 19 Feb 2019
Must apologise to the English fans for the stupid comments by some Welsh trolls it makes me embarrassed to be Welsh.
I hope it is a great game on Saturday but think England will be too strong for Wales even taking into account it is the best Welsh side ever and we are at home.
I am half English and on the edge of turning my back on Wales due to the stupidity of some of the fans.
Comment posted by grippo , at 14:20 19 Feb 2019
Did not expect itoje back to face us the weekend. Why rush him, he has years left in him no point making it worse. Especially when you have the likes of Lawes and launchberry to bring in.

Looking forward to a good game whatever the result is in the end.

Come on wales.
Comment posted by Casper, at 15:46 19 Feb 2019
Struggling to see what John Terry brings to the party.

If we lose its on him.
Comment posted by Scorpionwinger, at 16:35 19 Feb 2019
Richard Hill looks like he could eat JT for breakfast and have room left for desert
Comment posted by rugnut, at 14:17 19 Feb 2019
A great shame we won’t see the MI v AWJ head to head
Comment posted by charlieboy, at 15:58 19 Feb 2019
The last person I would want the England rugby team to listen to. So many inspirational people they could choose from. e.g. Daley Thompson, Steven Redgrave, Ian Botham, Chris Boardman, even any of the old 66 world cup team. Not a integrity free lowlife like Terry, who won nothing with England.
Comment posted by daicwmboy, at 14:55 19 Feb 2019
46. Posted by Swanseaboyo on
6 minutes ago
-----------------------
With all respect, I think you're confusing the stupidity of some of the posters on here with the attitude of Welsh supporters in general, who are usually realistic.
Comment posted by radar, at 14:25 19 Feb 2019
Oh no! So we will have to use Launchbury and Kruis and Lawes. Oh not too bad then!
Comment posted by Brimmers, at 14:25 19 Feb 2019
@7 Wembley1977. Perhaps we can call up the entire 'Scottish' back row - Englishmen to a man. Or Skinner, or Taylor, or Price...getting bored now.
Comment posted by D1694111038739, at 14:16 19 Feb 2019
@2
Clearly he’s not being rushed back - as I’ve said before on these forums the coaches and medics know what they are doing
Comment posted by Eddyvortex, at 16:42 19 Feb 2019
I have to ask myself, are Jones and the RFU completely out of touch with the fans? Just at the time when English rugby is starting to to feel better about itself, they pull a stunt like this....what the f@£&?....
Comment posted by Angry Beast, at 16:42 19 Feb 2019
@243

Who cares? He won nothing, not even close, with England, and he conducted himself throughout his career with zero class and a great deal of gutter behaviour. He is also barely literate, and his ability to express his (limited) views to educated men will be laughable.

Massive faux pas from the RFU