The reigning RBS 6 Nations Champions were well beaten at the Aviva Stadium in Round 2 and, even though they bounced back in emphatic style by seeing off France in Cardiff last time out, Priestland says the prospect of a repeat in South West London is proving a positive driving force.
“Everyone’s on edge. It’s pretty similar to that France game. We saw when we’re not at our best what can happen: any team who doesn’t turn up on the day is going to get punished in this competition,” said Priestland.
“We’ll have to be at our best to make sure there’s not a repeat of what happened in Dublin because England are playing very well at the moment and Twickenham’s a very tough place to go. They played well against Ireland, whereas we came up well short against them.
“There were a lot of lessons from that game against Ireland. As a squad we had a tough week after – the coaches pushed us hard and it was back to what we’re used to as a Welsh squad. That showed then in the performance against France when we were a completely different team to the one that went out to Dublin.
“Ireland was a big wake up call and we know that, if we’re not at our best, it could happen again when we go to Twickenham. We sorted our own house out against France and hopefully we can do the same against England.”
Priestland has again been named in the No10 shirt for Sunday’s fixture, with in-form Osprey Rhys Webb beating Mike Phillips in the battle to join him at halfback for the second game in succession.
The Scarlets star seems certain to be going head-to-head with Saracens favourite Owen Farrell, eight months after he had to watch the Englishman compete with Jonny Sexton for a British & Irish Lions starting berth after his own season was significantly disrupted by injury.
Priestland had been heavily tipped to tour Hong Kong and Australia prior to rupturing his Achilles but the 27-year-old has nothing but praise for his opposite number this weekend.
“He went on the Lions tour and is obviously one of the two best tens in Britain and Ireland. He’s a quality player and he plays for a quality team at Saracens who have had a lot of success,” added Priestland.
“Saracens are flying high in the Premiership and England have beaten the All Blacks (in 2012) and they’re going well in this Championship so he’s obviously a very, very good player, and I quite enjoy watching him.
“The impression I get of him is that he’s got an old head on young shoulders. Having spoken to a few of the players who went on the Lions tour with him, they’ve been very complimentary of him. He’s kept hold of the shirt and made it his own.”
