Ben Youngs will feed off any intimidation tactics Welsh rugby fans throw at England this weekend when they make their way to the Principality Stadium, but admitted he has never actually seen someone headbutt the English team coach on the streets of Cardiff.

It was in 2001 – supposedly – that a fan took aim at the England team bus and launched himself, head first, into the side of it after taking a run-up. Austin Healey takes credit for the story, having made the somewhat doubted revelation two years ago, but it has gone down in Wales vs England folklore nonetheless.

Much of the talk ahead of this weekend’s Six Nations encounter has been of how this England squad will cope with the passionate atmosphere the awaits them in Cardiff. Rightly so, given 11 of England’s matchday squad played in the crushing 30-3 defeat by Wales in 2013 that robbed Stuart Lancaster’s side of the Six Nations championship and Grand Slam.

But Youngs believes that whatever the England coach passes on its way into the stadium will help fire him up for the grudge match, and the scrum-half says it can work both ways for both teams even if it is an intimidation tactic.

“Cardiff is hostile but if you play Clermont in Clermont or Toulon in Toulon that is hostile,” Youngs said. “There’s just more of them (spectators) in Cardiff than there are at those two stadiums. It’s a fantastic stadium to play at. A great atmosphere leading into it.

The Welsh are supported by one of the most passionate fan bases in world rugby (Getty)

“The bus journey to the ground is quality so from our point of view there’s nothing but excitement leading into it.”

It’s said that Welsh grandmothers will line the streets as the visitors pass, waving certain obscene gestures that young grandchildren will mirror beside them. In truth, it’s not really like that, though a hostile reception will await regardless. Just don’t expect anyone to headbutt the bus.

“I’ve heard that story. I’ve never seen anything quite like that. Is that guy alright?” Youngs adds. “I don’t know if he ever recovered from it! I’ve never seen anything quite like that but when you leave the hotel and you’re on the bus on the way to the stadium you see the whole crowd and get the odd interesting gesture. But it’s alright, it doesn’t put you off or anything. If anything it adds fuel to the fire to perform well.”

Loading....

The 27-year-old feels that it’s these type of occasions that make playing international rugby so special, but he was one of the 11 players who were named in Eddie Jones’s squad for Saturday’s match that were humbled by Wales four years ago. Indeed, Youngs started at scrum-half that ill-fated day, and he believes that the inexperienced side fielded back then did not know what to expect in the Welsh capital, one of the notorious hotbeds of rugby union.

However, Youngs believes the core of the squad has the experience now to deal with the ferocity, and also believes they can help young players making their first international trip to Cardiff like Maro Itoje and Jack Clifford to ensure they are ready for what lies ahead.

England vs France player ratings Show all 24 1 /24 England vs France player ratings England vs France player ratings <b>England:</b> Joe Hart - 6 out of 10 Given little to do by a tame French attack, but he marshalled his area very well and was quick to rush off his line. Replaced by Jack Butland at half-time. 2015 Getty Images England vs France player ratings Nathaniel Clyne - 7 out of 10 Looked to break in behind Digne in the first half with little success. Had much more defending to do after the break as Martial’s impact grew. 2015 Getty Images England vs France player ratings Kieran Gibbs - 7 out of 10 His most impressive outing in the Three Lions shirt as he enjoyed success going forward down the left and tried to deliver in dangerous areas. 2015 The FA England vs France player ratings John Stones - 7 out of 10 Looked very comfortable on the ball as he repeatedly ran out of defence. Formed a solid partnership with Cahill in the centre. 2015 Getty Images England vs France player ratings Gary Cahill - 6 out of 10 Assured as the elder statesman at the back, and he controlled the defence with discipline. Looked to attack at the set-piece with his aerial threat. 2015 The FA England vs France player ratings Eric Dier - 6 out of 10 Youngs Spurs midfielder is flourishing in his new role this season and he didn’t look out of place in the international stage. An experienced head on young shoulder. 2015 Getty Images England vs France player ratings Dele Alli - 8 out of 10 Poor touch let him down when through on goal but made up for it with a stunning shot to open the scoring, though it did deflect off Koscielny. 2014 Getty Images England vs France player ratings Raheem Sterling - 7 out of 10 Crossed the ball deep into the box for Rooney to volley home, and he linked up well with the skipper as well as Harry Kane in front. Getty England vs France player ratings Ross Barkley - 5 out of 10 Continues to fall short of the standards rather unfairly expected of him. Set-piece delivery was poor too. 2015 Getty Images England vs France player ratings Wayne Rooney - 7 out of 10 Had an early sighter that went wide, but adjusted beautifully to volley home two minutes after the break after a neat Sterling cross to the back post. 2015 Manuel Queimadelos Alonso England vs France player ratings Harry Kane - 6 out of 10 Tried to find Rooney rather than shoot from a tough angle when Lloris gifted him the ball, but a useful spearhead for England. 2015 The FA England vs France player ratings Jack Butland - 6 out of 10 Thrown on at the break and stood up to the test with a strong save to deny Martial, though he wa rarely tested afterwards. 2015 The FA England vs France player ratings Hugo Lloris - 5 out of 10 Looked nervous with a misplaced pass that only found Kane, though his Spurs team-mate could not capitalise. Not much he could do for either goal. 2015 Boris Streubel England vs France player ratings Bacary Sagna - 5 out of 10 Let his former Arsenal colleague Gibbs get away too often and put his centre-backs under unnecessary pressure by pushing too far forward. 2015 Boris Streubel England vs France player ratings Lucas DIgne - 5 out of 10 Had trouble early on with the free-running Clyne, but he grew into the game and linked well with Martial before the Manchester United man departed. England vs France player ratings Laurent Koscielny - 4 out of 10 A poor outing from the Arsenal man. Didn’t know much about the deflection that lifted Alli’s shot over Lloris, but he lost Rooney for the second goal. 2015 Boris Streubel England vs France player ratings Raphael Varane - 6 out of 10 Didn’t do too much wrong although he won’t have liked being outmuscled on the ball by Kane midway through the second half. 2015 Jean Catuffe England vs France player ratings Yohan Cabaye - 6 out of 10 His passing was accurate enough but he didn’t have many moving targets to aim for until the introduction of Kingsley Coman. Lack of options hindered him. 2015 VI-Images England vs France player ratings Morgan Schneiderlin - 5 out of 10 Gave possession away too often in midfield that gave Sterling and Alli chances to counter. Didn’t know whether to sit deep or push on. 2014 Jean Catuffe England vs France player ratings Blaise Matuidi - 5 out of 10 Let Alli out of his sight for the first goal, and he was unable to find any incisive passes before the break when he was replaced by Paul Pogba. 2015 VI-Images England vs France player ratings Hatem Ben Arfa - 5 out of 10 Showed signs of the gifted winger that looked like he could cut it in the Premier League, but Gibbs kept him quiet. Replaced by the pacey Kingsley Coman at half-time. 2015 Jean Catuffe England vs France player ratings Andre-Pierre Gignac - 5 out of 10 Took a central role but struggled to impose on England. Offered little for France to aim at, and was hauled off for Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud short of the hour. England vs France player ratings Anthony Martial - 6 out of 10 Nearly dribbled his way through the English defence before he was smothered, and it took a brilliant safe from Butland to stop his shot after a beautiful flick from Pogba. 2015 Boris Streubel England vs France player ratings Paul Pogba - 7 out of 10 Looked a class above his French team-mates and his genius back-flick sent Martial through on goal. Changed the game to get France into the match, albeit too late. 2015 Getty Images

“I think there was an element of that and part of the team wasn’t quite sure what was coming,” he said. “I just see the team we have now compared to then and look at that team in 2013 which I was part of and think ‘God we had so many kids out there’, to a degree. I look at the side we’ve got now. In the front row Dylan [Hartley] has got 70 caps, [Dan] Cole is on 70, Joe Marler is two away from 50. That experience is outstanding.