Sam highlights three areas key to Welsh hopes

SAM WARBURTON has identified three key areas Wales must improve on if they are to stand any chance of competing with England in their Six Nations opener.

- By STEFFAN THOMAS

The former Wales captain insists Steve Tandy’s side must be significantly better at the set-piece, in the air and in winning collisions against England.

Steve Borthwick's side are extremely clinical in the opposition 22 so it is imperative Wales’ set-piece holds firm.

If Wales start conceding penalties at the scrum then it will be a long afternoon for the visitors.

Wales are without Cardiff tighthead Keiron Assiratti, who was one of their better players in the autumn, but are boosted by the return of the experienced Tomas Francis who has been named on the bench.

England have injuries in the front-row but Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes are two of the best scrummagers in the business.

"There are three key areas that Wales will have been focusing on this week," Warburton wrote in The Times.