 Mike Ruddock wants controlled aggression from Wales on Saturday |
Wales coach Mike Ruddock wants his side to be "referee friendly" in Saturday's Six Nations opener with England. Ruddock said he also hopes referee Paul Honiss will be strong enough to ignore the "interpretations" of England's experienced players at Twickenham.
He said: "We have got to be disciplined and positive so the referee can't see things that allows the crowd to pressurise him into giving penalties.
"We are expecting England to be really fired up for this match."
New Zealander Honiss was criticised for some over-zealous whistle work when he officiated last weekend's Guinness Premiership match between Leicester and Sale.
He sent Leicester's Lewis Moody to the sin-bin on the England flanker's return to action after suspension, but was accused by Sale coach Philippe Saint-Andre of giving favourable decisions to the home side.
Ruddock says he has studied Honiss' style of refereeing so his players will know exactly what to expect, but stresses there will be no problems if Wales maintain their discipline.
"Paul Honiss refereed us against France in Paris last season, and we have also looked at some of the autumn games such as France against Australia that he refereed," Ruddock added.
"So we have got an angle on what we think he wants to see on the rugby field in terms of the interpretation of the laws.
 |  There are some players in the England team who are pretty good at helping the referee with some of his interpretations of the laws |
"He is a fine referee who is respected worldwide, but regardless of who the referee is, my message has always been the same to the players - we have got to be referee friendly.
"I was very impressed with him in our game against France last season.
"There was a lot of pressure on him from the crowd and a lot of pressure on him in terms of the game and the intensity, but he stuck to his guns and came through it superbly.
"He wanted to see disciplined rugby from both sides, and I am sure that will be the case again on Saturday.
"There are some players in the England team who are pretty good at helping the referee with some of his interpretations of the laws.
"Hopefully he won't take too much notice of that and just get on with the game and referee it like he did the last time I watched him."
MMIX
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