England vs Wales: This is the big one and I want the bragging rights, says Jamie Roberts

England against Wales is a game that inspires and is like no other in the Six Nations. It’s on another level. It’s always an amazing privilege to play in it.

This year’s game seems even more special. In part, that’s down to the fact that Twickenham looms above me every day, a venue I can’t escape when I turn up for training just around the corner at The Stoop. And the reminder’s there in the players too.

Chris Robshaw and I share a lift into training most days from Wandsworth and it’ll be a very special experience to play against him and the other four Harlequins guys in the England squad this afternoon.

Playing against club team-mates at international level was not something I’d ever encountered until my move to Racing Métro. All that friendship goes out the window for 80 minutes and then you’re able to shake hands afterwards, have a beer and amicably dissect the game.

Of course, in my case I’d like that conversation to be about a Welsh win and to be able to walk into the changing rooms next time I’m at The Stoop and have the bragging rights. I remember after last year’s win against France heading back to Racing and going in there and shaking all the guys’ hands. It’s a good feeling.

When I arrived at Quins in December, the fall-out from the World Cup had dissipated somewhat, so I never really saw the England guys that low. By the time I got there they seemed to have dusted themselves off and got on with it.

I’ve been particularly impressed by Robshaw in that regard. As captain of the side, he bore the brunt of a lot of the criticism that went England’s way and that must have been hard to take. I’m sure he was as hugely disappointed as any England fan, if not more so.

But he’s a great guy – such a down-to-earth fella – and, to my mind, he’s playing some of the very best rugby of his career, which is incredibly impressive bearing in mind he had to bounce back from what I’m sure was a low point.

There’s been a lot of talk in the media about that last encounter between England and Wales at the World Cup but, honestly, we’ve not spoken about it as a group. Why would we? It’s great that we’ve experienced winning at Twickenham and go into this game knowing what it takes but we don’t need to spend our time talking about it.

For me, the losses against England resonate as much as the wins, maybe even more so. Of course, what happened last year was incredibly special, and likewise in 2013, but I still have vivid memories of the manner in which we lost our way in the second half in 2014 and again last year.

And what’s gone before is not remotely pertinent. This is a new-look England and they appear to be very well coached going into this new era.

We’re well versed in what a new coach can do. When Warren Gatland took over, he added a spark which inspired a change in attitude and belief, and the results came with that. England are seeing that now as the only side with a 100 per cent record in this year’s Six Nations.

We find ourselves back at Oatlands Park Hotel, which was our base for so long during the World Cup. When we packed up and left after the South Africa defeat I felt like I’d said goodbye to that particular chapter in my life. But I’m happy to be back again. Usually I tend to share a room with Jonathan Davies but this time I’ve been lucky enough to get a room on my own and thankfully it’s not the haunted one that caused such a stir in the World Cup!

The mood’s been very relaxed all week. That comes down from Gats. We’re an experienced group and he knows there’s no point wasting any emotional stress in the build-up. That changes come this morning.Come game day it’s a whole other level.

There’s no escaping the enormity of the game. It has the potential to be the championship decider. If England win, I can’t see them going to Paris and losing with the Grand Slam at stake; and similarly, if we’re victorious, I’d back us to beat Italy at home.

So with that comes enormous pressure – and pressure can either cripple you or you grow an inch taller. We know we’re grappling, grasping to find something that pushes you to another level but I know this bunch of guys are ready.

We’re unchanged and that’s good – and if anything we feel stronger, with experienced guys like Rhys Webb and Luke Charteris on the bench.

The replacements for the game are almost more important than the 15 that take to the park for kick-off because these guys are the ones who’ll be making the key decisions when the game’s on a knife-edge. And I like the look of the bench we can turn to.

Much has been made about the key battles between the two No 8s or the front row, but personally I see key battles across the park from No 1 to 15.

I noted Eddie Jones’ comments about the scrummaging but that’s just pre-match talk and we won’t pay the blindest bit of attention to that. Instead our focus is on Gats and his message this week, which has been about “bringing the big game to Twickenham”.

In five or 10 years’ time, there’s going to come a point when I can no longer be involved in games of this magnitude. For all I know, this may even be the last time I play England and I have to play like it’s my last – we all do – and leave nothing left at the final whistle.