• Eddie Jones has given Jonathan Joseph the task of stopping No 10 Rhys Patchell
  • Patchell made his Six Nations debut in Wales’ free-flowing 34-7 win vs Scotland
  • Jones questioned whether the fly-half will cope with the pressure at Twickenham

By Nik Simon for MailOnline

Published: 13:13 GMT, 8 February 2018 | Updated: 16:24 GMT, 8 February 2018

England coach Eddie Jones has turned up the heat on rookie No 10 Rhys Patchell ahead of Saturday’s showdown with Wales.

The 24-year-old made his Six Nations debut against Scotland – following injuries to Dan Biggar and Rhys Priestland.

Patchell starred in Wales’ free-flowing 34-7 victory over Scotland but Jones has questioned whether the Wales fly-half will cope with the pressure at Twickenham.

England head coach Eddie Jones was open about his plan to target Wales’ rookie No 10 

Rhys Patchell made his Six Nations debut for Wales in their 34-7 victory over Scotland

Rhys Patchell made his Six Nations debut for Wales in their 34-7 victory over Scotland

Rhys Patchell made his Six Nations debut for Wales in their 34-7 victory over Scotland

‘Every time Rhys Patchell looks up he’s going to see JJ in his vision – it’s not a great sight,’ said Jones, who has told centre Jonathan Joseph to target the playmaker.

‘They’ve got to get the ball wide and Patchell hasn’t played much Test match rugby. He’s a young guy, he’s inexperienced and he’s their third-choice 10. He’s got to get the ball wide and that’s going to be a big job for him.

‘It’s going to be different to playing against Scotland. Scotland couldn’t cope with the expectation and now he’s got to cope with the expectation of playing well. He’s got to find guys around him to help him because he’s going to be under some heat, mate.’

Jones believes England's Jonathan Joseph can counteract the fleet 24-year-old this weekend

Jones believes England's Jonathan Joseph can counteract the fleet 24-year-old this weekend

Jones believes England’s Jonathan Joseph can counteract the fleet 24-year-old this weekend

Despite having a short five-day turnaround, Jones has made just two changes to his starting team.

Joseph and Danny Care will both start in the back line, against Warren Gatland’s relatively inexperienced Welsh side, dominated by Scarlets players.

‘Warren’s been talking a lot this week,’ said Jones. ‘He’s confident. They’re confident.

‘They played well, they played really well, but it’s going to be different on Saturday – they had no expectation on them last Saturday but this week they come full of expectation.

‘Everyone has been telling them how well they played, they are playing in front of 82,000 people at Twickenham, they are playing against a side that loves to play at Twickenham. The 82,000 it’s like our 24th man. They are going to be full of energy, full of passion and it’s going to be a great Saturday.’

Jones reminded the media of Patchell's inexperience and called him Wales' 'third-choice'

Jones reminded the media of Patchell's inexperience and called him Wales' 'third-choice'

Jones reminded the media of Patchell’s inexperience and called him Wales’ ‘third-choice’

ENGLAND TEAM TO FACE WALES 

ENGLAND XV: M Brown (Harlequins); A Watson (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), J May (Leicester); G Ford (Leicester), D Care (Harlequins); M Vunipola (Saracens), D Hartley (Northampton. capt), D Cole (Leicester); J Launchbury (Wasps), M Itoje (Saracens); C Lawes (Northampton), S Simmonds (Exeter), C Robshaw (Harlequins). 

Replacements: J George (Saracens), A Hepburn (Exeter), H Williams (Exeter), G Kruis (Saracens), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), B Te’o (Worcester), J Nowell (Exeter). 



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