England second-row Maro Itoje is looking forward to playing at a noisy Principality Stadium when his team faces Wales next weekend as the Six Nations returns.

It will be the first time England and Wales play in front of a stadium with fans in Cardiff for four years due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Loves the noise

Itoje is looking forward to the noise in the ground and does not mind if people are “baying for our blood”.

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“The noise! I remember the first time I played there. I was trying to get a message to one of my team-mates nearby and I had to literally scream at him. It’s a noisy, noisy stadium and the fans always give England a nice warm reception,” he said.

“But it’s exciting and makes the ground unique. It makes the occasion very interesting and adds a little more colour to the event.

“I love that noise even if it is 60,000 people or so baying for our blood! I’d prefer that than a quiet, empty stadium which we experienced during Covid.

“After Covid you appreciate the atmosphere the fans bring to the stadium. It creates a much better environment for everybody. So the louder the better.

“I’ve also seen a lot of grandmothers throw some choice fingers up at the bus as we’ve gone by them.

“You draw on those past experiences. You know it is not an easy place to go to and that they will definitely be up for it, no matter their recent results.”

There are doubts the game will not go ahead due to strikes from the Wales team due to contract concerns with the Welsh Rugby Union, but coach Warren Gatland is confident the match will be played.