The spit may have gone but we miss that polish

If we see the same kind of performance we witnessed against Italy, or Heaven forbid a worse one, then serious questions will have to be asked.

There is a fundamental element missing in the England game and whatever it is they need to find it, and find it quickly.

If 100 per cent is the most perfect game you could ever play then the 2003 World Cup-winning England team used to operate at around the mid-90s. A decent international side who have trained well and put in the right preparation would be around 80 per cent and we knew that given the way we were playing it would need the opposition to hit an even higher percentage than us, which is a very big ask.

Wales are probably up to that mid-90 per cent mark while England have to improve just to get up to 85 per cent and then hope the Welsh drop off and this would create a real scrap.

Apart from a couple of games against Australia, we haven't seen Andrew Sheridan dominate opponents. We need to see his true potential because he is as strong as an ox but it's not about how much weight he can push around in the gym, it's about who he can bully and put under pressure.

Although it's not just about Sheridan (right), if he can make an impact it will be a huge boost.

A couple of years ago you would have fancied England's chances of having a real go at this Welsh pack but the hosts have made improvements and I am not that confident it can be achieved tomorrow.

That's down to the coaching panel they have put in place under Warren Gatland plus the way the Ospreys, Scarlets and Blues have moved forward over the last couple of seasons. All negatives aside, we did actually beat Italy and now we need to see a marked improvement. If we have a couple of performances like we witnessed at Twickenham, then at some point, the axe will fall.

We didn't play well against Italy and it's hard to put your finger on why it's not happening because the same players perform well for their clubs in the Premiership on a regular basis.

They thrive in those matches so you have to ask: Are we producing players who are good for club rugby but not Test level? I don't believe that's the case and it isn't a valid excuse.

The team need to thrive at this level because we were ponderous against Italy with plodding, slow rugby and there wasn't any spark there. It's not just about passion - the players do put their bodies on the line - but you have to go out and want to play and have some fun. You cannot see the same kind of enthusiasm Wales displayed beating Scotland evident in this England side and we have to discover that missing element.

I believe the atmosphere is not as hostile at Cardiff these days in the new stadium. I remember going out at the old Arms Park to soak up the experience and finding it was the back of my England jacket that had done that!

You would wander out and hear the fans shouting things to you and then head back down the tunnel to the changing room, take off your jacket and discover it was covered in spit!

That summed up the feelings the locals had for the English in those days.

While the mood may not be as fiery, I still expect a passionate response from the crowd tomorrow.