Mart money is on a close encounter..

ENGLAND legend Martin Johnson says he is expecting Wales to make it tough for Steve Borthwick's side in their Six Nations opener this weekend, despite being taken aback by how they crumbled at home in Cardiff last year.

- BY JOHN JONES

Steve Tandy's men head to Twickenham on Saturday as massive underdogs, having not won a championship match since March 2023 and finishing the last two tournaments with the Wooden Spoon.

By contrast, England go into the match on an 11-game winning streak and are widely seen as the team to challenge defending champions France for this year's title.