Official RBS 6 Nations Rugby : Williams: Back row will be crucial

Wales flanker Martyn Williams admits his side must triumph in the battle of the back row if they're to win the war with England in their RBS 6 Nations opener.

Williams, along with skipper Ryan Jones and Cardiff’s Andy Powell, will go head-to-head with England trio Nick Easter, James Haskell and Lewis Moody.

And after starting their 2008 Grand Slam championship with victory over England at Twickenham, the 34-year-old is backing Wales to repeat the trick on Saturday.

"They've got an awesome back-row: Nick Easter, James Haskell and Lewis Moody,” said Williams. “Great balance there, very dynamic.”

"Nick Easter's got a fantastic rugby brain, he's very underestimated I think.

"But we go into it well, with two boys next to me - Ryan [Jones] and Powelly [Andy Powell] - who have been on fire for their regions over the last couple of months.

"It's going to be an interesting battle. Maybe we haven't got the strength-in-depth and the numbers to choose from like some of the top sides but we're still a confident group and we've progressed a long way in the past two years."

Wales' first-half woes continued as scrum-half Tomas O'Leary created two tries and scored another in Ireland's 27-12 RBS 6 Nations victory at Croke Park.

Italy boss Nick Mallett is hoping the hosts' complacency can play into their hands as France look to move one step closer to the RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam against the Azzurri on Sunday.

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