Wales are determined to leave Scotland sprawling on the canvas in Saturday’s heavyweight RBS 6 Nations clash after receiving the ultimate pep talk – from boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard.
The former world champion, in Cardiff to promote Joe Calzaghe’s title fight with Peter Manfredo, will be in the red corner this weekend after offering his advice to Wales captain Stephen Jones.
Wales played some impressive attacking rugby against Ireland last weekend but could not find a breakthrough and slipped to a tryless 19-9 defeat.
And Jones plans to use some of Leonard’s patter in his captain’s speech in the hope it inspires Wales to deliver the knock-out blows at Murrayfield.
“Sugar Ray truly is a sporting legend. I found him really humble and down to earth,” said Jones.
“He wished us all good luck for the weekend and I’d just like to thank him for speaking to us. He has left all the boys in buoyant mood ahead of the weekend.”
Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips also grabbed the rare opportunity to speak with one of his sporting icons before boarding the flight to Scotland.
Phillips said: “I come from a boxing family and watched lots of his fights on TV when I was growing up and also have plenty of videos of him in action.
“My brother, Mark, boxed professionally at middleweight and he will be extremely jealous that I had the chance to speak to him.
“I asked him what his best fight was and he said it had to be against Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns, which would probably have been my call too as a fan.”
If Wales’ clash with Scotland in 2005 had been a boxing match it would have been stopped well before half-time.
Wales demolished the Scots, scoring five tries in the first half en route to a stunning 46-22 victory that left them one win away from the Grand Slam.
This time around it is a very different story. Wales had been considered title contenders before last weekend’s defeat to Ireland.
Now they are one defeat away a potential wooden-spoon decider with Italy in Rome and head coach Gareth Jenkins is beginning to feel the pressure.
Since Jenkins took charge last summer Wales have only beaten Canada and the Pacific Islands, though they did draw 29-29 with Australia.
And he said: “Put yourself in my position. Since I’ve been in the job, we’ve only beaten two teams and both of them were outside the top 10-ranked sides.
“It’s right to say the pressure is on because it’s the first time we have played a top-10 team below us in the rankings.
“Scotland are not a side to be under-estimated, they can be especially dangerous at home and we will not be going into this game under-estimating them. ‘
