England hope hymn practice leads to Wales win

England have taken the unusual step of training to the sound of hymns being blasted out over loud speakers in a bid to get used to the atmosphere awaiting them at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium for their Six Nations opener with Wales on Friday.
On their last visit to the Welsh capital two years ago, England saw dreams of what would have been their first Grand Slam in a decade disappear with a thumping 30-3 defeat by Wales, with a packed Millennium Stadium crowd of some 74,500 contributing to the fevered environment in which the rout took place.   
England's side on Friday is set to feature only five survivors from that match in the starting XV and coach Stuart Lancaster has left no stone unturned at the squad's training base in Bagshot, south of London, to make sure his team are not caught cold again.
"It's just a way of trying to replicate for the players who have not been there examples of the type of sound and how it reverberates around the stadium," Lancaster said after unveiling his matchday 23 on Wednesday.
"It also shows you how clear your communication has to be because often you can't hear yourself due to the intensity of the occasion."
He added: "It replicates that and gives the players a little chance to prepare during training.
"We haven't done it all week because we don't have the eardrums for that."
While some might regard such preparation as excessive, Wales assistant coach Rob Howley said it was a sensible move by England.
"At a lot of stadiums in the world it's sometimes difficult in terms of the line-out calls and the communication between half-backs," Howley said.
"They (England) experienced that in 2013, and preparation for any international side is very meticulous," the former Wales and British and Irish Lions scrum-half added. "They have looked back and learnt from that experience."
"Likewise, we had the experience at Twickenham a few years ago when they had music blaring on one side of the pitch, and we found it difficult in the warm-up prior to the game.
"It's about learning from those experiences and they are trying to make sure it doesn't happen again."
Wales coach Warren Gatland has said he would like the Millennium Stadium's retractable roof to be closed, a move that would suit the running game of the Welsh backs.
But it is England who will determine whether the roof is open or closed and, with Lancaster's men looking to take Wales on up front, it is likely Friday's match will be exposed to the elements.  
"We have a decision to make by the close of play on Wednesday, so we'll wait for the latest weather forecast," said Lancaster.
"But it looks like it's set fair and, if it is, then we want it open."
Source: AFP