Six Nations: Millennium Stadium roof to stay open for England visit

Cardiff's Millennium StadiumGetty Images

Cardiff's Millennium Stadium has a 78,000 capacity

RBS Six Nations: Wales v England

Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Date: Friday, 6 February Kick-off: 20:05 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC TV, HD, Red Button, Radio 5 live, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, the BBC Sport website, S4C online, tablets, mobiles, the BBC Sport app and Connected TVs

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The roof at the Millennium Stadium will be left open for Friday's Six Nations match between Wales and England.

Both teams must agree for it to be closed and while Wales head coach Warren Gatland stated that is his preference, England have declined.

The weather forecast for Cardiff on Friday night is cold but dry, convincing visiting head coach Stuart Lancaster to have it kept open.

The stadium's roof was closed when England lost 30-3 to Wales in 2013.

BBC Radio 5 live Rugby Union Correspondent Christopher Jones

"The roof was closed two years ago, leading to a febrile environment. England struggled and Wales ran amok. Stuart Lancaster is well within his rights to attempt to dilute the atmosphere - a Welsh trump card - by keeping the roof open."

Defeat two years ago cost England the Grand Slam and Gatland had stated he wanted the roof closed again to increase the atmosphere in the stadium.

The vocal Welsh support has nevertheless forced Lancaster into unusual pre-match preparations.

The head coach arranged for hymns to be played over loudspeakers at England's Pennyhill Park base to prepare his players for the noise at the Millennium Stadium.

"It is to try to replicate for the players who have not been there how sound reverberates," he said.

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