Hail those heroes of '88: the last Welsh side to win at Twickenham

Adrian Hadley never thought much of Twickenham, and the man who scored two tries for Wales the last time they won there, in 1988, has passed on his lack of affection to one England's current talents.

Hadley, who gave Charlie Hodgson his chance at Sale, would love to see Wales start the defence of their title with a win at Twickenham, and would also enjoy casting his eye over another Sale academy product, Mark Cueto. But he will not be at the match.

"Obviously I'll watch the game but as for going back to Twickenham, there's certainly no temptation - I hate the place," said Hadley, echoing Hodgson's words this week. "It wasn't what I call a proper rugby atmosphere. It's full of snobs who don't know a thing about the game.

"The only time I've been back since 1988 was in the cup final with Sale [in 1997] but I didn't enjoy it so I've never been back to watch a game. I'm not turning my back on Wales. My international memories hold special importance and pulling on a Wales jersey ranks with the greatest experiences of my life. It's justI am not a great watcher these days and I can't stand Twickenham."

Hadley, then a Cardiff wing, inspired an 11-3 win for Wales in 1988 with two tries for a team who went on to win the Triple Crown. Wales had beaten England in the 1987 World Cup, but they had lostJohn Devereux with a broken finger and had a 31-year-old debutant at lock, Llanelli's Phil May. Dropping their points machine full-back Paul Thorburn for the 20-year-old Anthony Clement, they played four fly-halves. Mark Ring, Jonathan Davies and the captain, Bleddyn Bowen, were the others given a remit to run at the English. Hadley's clinical finishing ensured that the plan worked.

"Walking through the car park really got us going," said Hadley. "There were all these flash cars and picnic hampers and some English lady asked if Terry Holmes was in the team, but he had gone north three years earlier and that didn't go down well with our boys. The English supporters thought we were nobodies.

"The next person I bumped into in the car park was my former boss in the Inland Revenue. He told me I had better not score and ruin his day - I'm so glad I did. The Welsh always used to intimidate the English and we decided that we were really going to lay into them. We had a back line full of good footballers and a pack of forwards who were prepared to get stuck in. We did that and eventually ran England off their feet."

Mike Ruddock's men would do well to keep those words in mind today.

Sixteen good men and true The squad who conquered HQ

15 TONY CLEMENT (Swansea; front row in photograph above, third from right)

Replaced Paul Thorburn. Suffered from the "Jack of all trades" tag at Test level, winning his caps in four positions. Now one of the youngest coaches in the Welsh Premiership, with his home club Swansea.

14 IEUAN EVANS (Llanelli; front row, far left)

Captained his country a record 28 times during 11-year Test career in which he scored a record 33 tries. Went on British and Irish Lions tours in 1989, 1993 and 1997. A Heineken Cup winner with Bath in 1998, now a regular TV pundit and RBS Six Nations ambassador.

13 MARK RING (Pontypool; front row, second left)

A rare and mercurial talent, Ring became one of the game's colourful characters off the field during coaching spells at West Hartlepool, Penzance and Caerphilly. Led the latter to the European Shield final in 2003 only to be sacked the following season.

12 BLEDDYN BOWEN (capt, SW Police; with ball)

Arguably his greatest moment as Wales captain. The police officer retired from international rugby and the South Wales Police Force the following year and is now a regional office manager for Konica Minolta in Aberystwyth. Lives in Pontardawe, near Swansea.

11 ADRIAN HADLEY (Cardiff; front row, centre)

Wales' two-try hero changed codes later that year and joined Salford. Returned to union as player-coach, then director of rugby, at Sale and oversaw Jason Robinson's move from league. Admitted in his autobiography to taking amphetamines before a Wales match in 1986, along with two team-mates. Now director of fund-raising for the South Wales hospice charity, St Anne's.

10 JONATHAN DAVIES (Llanelli; front row, far right)

Dropped more goals, 13, than any other Welshman. One of five members of this team to switch codes in the space of a year with his £200,000 move to Widnes in 1989. Went on to captain Great Britain. Now the BBC's league and union pundit, and has a weekly chat show on the Welsh language channel S4C.

9 ROBERT JONES (Swansea; front row, second right)

Retired after the 1995 World Cup having overtaken Gareth Edwards as Wales' most capped scrum-half. Toured with the British and Irish Lions in 1989 and 1993. Now a recruitment manager for the Llanelli Scarlets and Welsh rugby correspondent for BBC Five Live.

1 STAFF JONES (Pontypool; back row, third right)

A blacksmith's striker and a product of the infamous Pontypool front-row factory. Toured New Zealand with the 1983 Lions. Now lives in Ynysybwl, where he is an operator in a windscreen wiper plant.

2 KEVIN PHILLIPS (Neath; back row, far right )

Led Neath to Welsh Cup wins in 1989 and 1990 before joining the coaching team when he retired in 1994. Had spells in charge of Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn before returning to farming in West Wales.

3 DAVID YOUNG (Swansea; back row, second right)

Stormed on to the Test stage in 1987 as a teenager in the World Cup quarter-final win over England. Made three Lions tours, in 1989, 1997 and 2001, with a spell in rugby league in the middle, and is Wales' most capped prop forward. Now head coach at Cardiff Blues.

4 PHIL MAY (Llanelli; back row, fifth right)

The elder statesman of the team on his debut, after lengthy service to Llanelli. Made a brief return from retirement in the local leagues; now a business divisional manager for United Distillers & Vintners.

5 ROBERT NORSTER (Cardiff; back row, fourth left)

A fine line-out exponent, the financial consultant toured for a second time with the British and Irish Lions the following year, after which he retired from Tests. Was Wales's team manager between 1992 and 1995 and is now chief executive at Cardiff Blues.

6 ROWLAND PHILLIPS (Neath; back row, fourth right)

Enjoyed a successful league career with Warrington, winning 14 caps for Wales. Now coaches his hometown club Neath, leading them to the Welsh Premiership title last season. They are currently well clear at the top of the table. Also the Wales Under-18s coach.

7 RICHIE COLLINS (SW Police; back row, fourth left)

Open-side flanker who earned a recall to the team that won the Five Nations in 1994. The police officer also represented Wales at basketball before coaching Pontypridd in 1999-2000. Still serving with Gwent Police Force.

8 PAUL MORIARTY (Swansea; back row, centre)

Switched codes the following year in a £100,000 transfer to Widnes, winning various honours before enjoying spells with Halifax and Workington Town. Returned to union in 1997 with Swansea, where he moved into coaching. Now forwards coach of the Llanelli Scarlets.

REPLACEMENT IAN WATKINS (Ebbw Vale; back row, far left)

Came on for Kevin Phillips. Had a spell as coach of Brighton, where he still works as a plasterer.