'niggly' Mann Aims To Get Under Skin Of Opposition

Wales flanker Alex Mann says he likes to effort and get nether nan tegument of nan guidance arsenic he prepares to look England successful their Six Nations opener.

Mann, 24, is group to battalion down successful nan Wales backmost statement astatine nan Allianz Stadium connected Saturday (16:40 GMT).

The Cardiff forward's erstwhile world outing saw him oculus gouged by South Africa fastener Eben Etzebeth, for which nan two-time World Cup victor received a 12-week ban.

Etzebeth later posted a video claiming his actions were a guidance to being struck by Mann and that nan gouge was not intentional.

Mann was cleared of immoderate wrongdoing which sparked a important furore crossed nan rugby world.

"I said astir this before, that worldly is conscionable portion of nan game," said Mann.

"I rather for illustration trying to get nether people's tegument and I'm judge group effort to do it to maine arsenic well. It is what it is and I'm conscionable looking guardant to what's ahead."

Mann could look different arguable characteristic connected Saturday pinch charismatic England number 8 Henry Pollock named arsenic a replacement.

Pollock is known for goading nan guidance and royal try-scoring celebrations.

"I would opportunity we are different characters," said Mann.

"I deliberation we're some niggly, truthful it should beryllium interesting.

"Fair play to him, he comes up each week and backs it up. That's his character, everyone is different and it is his style of play.

"He's a bully subordinate but I cognize what I tin do arsenic well."

Asked if he would beryllium intimidated by Pollock's large daze of blonde hair, Mann replied: "I americium not intimidated by overmuch to beryllium honorable pinch you."

Mann has encouraging individual memories of Twickenham having scored a effort successful nan 16-14 conclusion against England successful 2024 successful what was only his 2nd international.

Despite nan loss, nan juncture gave Mann a glimpse of nan value of nan fixture.

"It is large crippled for nan state truthful we're going to do everything successful each powers to get our triumph connected Saturday," said Mann.

"It's a large occasion, it intends a batch to nan Welsh group and nan Welsh fans.

"So we cognize that it's our occupation to spell and put a capacity successful for Wales."

England person won their past 11 internationals, including 4 victories successful nan autumn campaign, which has lifted them to 3rd successful nan world.

In contrast, Wales person mislaid 21 retired of 23 internationals pinch nan only victories against Japan successful Kobe and Cardiff successful 2025.

The tally of defeats included an unprecedented 18-match successive Test losing series and grounds location losses against England (68-14), Argentina (52-26) and South Africa (73-0).

Wales person not won a Six Nations lucifer since March 2023 against Italy successful Rome, pinch nan grounds of 11 successive defeats resulting successful 2 winless tournaments.

Mann says he is not concerned pinch Wales being written off.

"We person that soul belief arsenic a group truthful it doesn't matter what different group opportunity extracurricular because that's irrelevant," said Mann.

"We cognize what we tin do and nan calibre of players we person got, truthful we person that self-confidence that we tin spell and put a capacity successful and move teams over.

"That's nan breathtaking spot for us."