England chase elevated Twickenham experience - on and off the field

After consultation with the players, the RFU is hoping for an improved atmosphere for the Six Nations visit of Wales

- Robert Kitson

An unchanged teamsheet does not, in England's case, mean settling for the status quo this weekend. from players to casual fans, there is an acceptance the Twickenham atmosphere needs to change - and soon. The last time the national team played at home, against Fiji in the buildup to the Rugby World Cup, the rows of empty seats said it all even before England lost the actual game.

The Six Nations is always a slightly different beast, with the travelling Welsh choirs available to give the visiting anthem a passionate extra edge. But when the Guardian reported last month that England's new captain, Jamie George, and his players had submitted several suggestions to the Rugby Football Union to try

Across the board, to improve the vibe in and around the stadium on big international days, social media was not slow to suggest numerous areas that could, or should, be addressed.

"Ticket prices and getting in and out of the stadium need fixing." "The last two years has seen Twickenham turn into a pissheads' heaven." "Stop kicking the ball away." Clearly, there is not one instant one-size-fits-all solution perhaps tellingly, the RFU declined to make any of its administrators available for comment yesterday but the first steps are being taken towards something more uplifting.

Some will be in house and out of sight, some more obvious and inclusive. As they had requested, the team will be taking a slightly longer 'fan walk' through the West car park to the dressing rooms before the game, although the logistics have proved trickier than anticipated.