In search of Cardiff repeat

England centre Jonathan Joseph will return to the scene of one of his best days in Test rugby when the Grand Slam champions face Wales at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday.

Two years ago, Joseph marked his Six Nations debut with a spectacular try as England overturned an eight-point deficit at half-time to win 21-16 in the Welsh capital.

"That game is one that sticks in my mind quite a lot," said Joseph.

"It was an unbelievable atmosphere even on the bus-ride in," explained Joseph, now 25, as he recalled the taunts of Welsh fans.

"It all started there."

Then came the pre-match ceremonies at the ground itself in front of a typically passionate home crowd.

"I was thinking: 'What's going on?'," recalled Bath back Joseph, a veteran of 30 Tests.

"But as soon as we got out there it was a pretty spectacular occasion.

"The lights went down and then they brought them up when they sang their national anthem.

"I thought it was amazing. The adrenalin was going and all the boys were real pumped up for it. I think it works for both teams."

Two years ago, England scored 13 unanswered points in the second half with Joseph striking soon after the interval when he spun out of one tackle and sliced between two other defenders with a dummy overhead pass to cross for a spectacular maiden Test try.

"It was a really tough game," he said. "The way we played, executed and controlled the game I thought was exceptional, especially playing down there. I thought we did really well."

England are on a national record 15-match winning streak.

But they launched their Six Nations title defence with a stuttering 19-16 win at home to France last week.

Joseph said England could not afford another sluggish start against a Wales side fresh from a 33-7 win away to Italy.

"I think the aim for us is to start the game very well and hopefully not have to wait until the second half for the crowd to quieten down," he explained.

"We didn't start the last game too well. It's something we've been working on and will look to do on Saturday."

Meanwhile Joseph added England also needed to keep their error count down against a Wales side keen to exploit turnover ball.

"Games are won and lost on discipline and errors," said Joseph. "It's not so much a team thing, it's just a lapse of concentration.

source: AFP