Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"This might be mind games, but Chris Robshaw looks like he's holding off walking out, and saying he's not going out on the pitch until Wales are ready."

We have a stand-off.

Chris Robshaw stands firm, refusing to set off for the pitch until the Welsh team are also out of their lair and ready.

Finally he is convinced to head out but only after referee Jerome Garces assures him that if the Welsh don't follow inside a minute, he has licence to head back to the dressing room.

Oh, the drama.

Chris Robshaw emerges for the away team dressing room and into the tunnel.

The dry ice that has pumped out on the pitch is down in the corridor...

Brian Moore
Former England hooker on BBC One

"Anything the NFL can do, the Millennium Stadium can do as well. What a tremendous atmosphere."

Duncan in Isleworth: Brian Moore has his grumpy face on...in other words we're all set!

Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"This build-up inside the stadium with the flashing lights and music is the closest that Ian Robertson has ever been to a nightclub!"

Back to matters in Cardiff.

The Millennium Stadium MC has killed the house lights and fired up the lasers. Shafts of lights raking high into the stands, dance music pumping and then... silence.

The crowd take their cue. You can almost hear the chomping of bits in the rumble of expectation that goes round.

The teams are almost here...

Your vote is in.

A brave minority going for Italy to win the Six Nations this year. England take the honours by a hefty margin.

Vote results:

England 38%

Ireland 28%

Wales 22%

Scotland 6%

France 4%

Italy 2%

Mark in Berkshire: Re: the roof - Warren Gatland should really listen to himself. He sounds like a child who's had their lolly taken away. Ahhh Didums.

Sir Clive Woodward
Former England coach on BBC One

"I'm really excited about George Ford playing at 10 for England. I hope he doesn't kick it away all night, I hope he plays with the ball in hand because if he does we could be in for a great game of rugby."

Jonathan Davies
Former Wales fly-half on BBC One

"Dan Biggar is the boss on the park for Wales, without a shadow of a doubt. The half-backs are not too experienced at this level but they have played a lot together.

"For England how will George Ford cope defensively? He is up against men who are four and five stones heavier than him and they will run at him. It is a massive game for him."

England coach Stuart Lancaster to BBC Sport: Friday night in Cardiff...it doesn't get any bigger. We've got to get our kicking game right and manage the game well. Our set-pieces have to be good, our defence has to excellent and we have to pull the trigger in attack. We've got some young lads here for the first time, but I'm excited about the team."

Sir Clive Woodward
Former England coach on BBC One

"If you can't play rugby here, you can't play it anywhere. It's one of the greatest stadiums in the world."

Image source, Getty Images

Before the 2003 World Cup, Springbok coach Rudolph Straeuli took his players to a remote police camp were they were ordered to strip naked and forced into freezing water while the All Black haka and God Save the Queen blared out over loudspeakers. , external

Stuart Lancaster did not quite turn Pennyhill Park into "Kamp Staaldraad" over the past week, but he did have Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau pumped into their indoor training base in a bid to replicate the deafening atmosphere that awaits his men.

I'm not sure how far they tweaked the volume knob back in Surrey, but the atmosphere is bubbling in Cardiff. The hookers are going to need a loudhailer to get the lineout calls to the lads at the back of the queue

Image source, @danroan

BBC sports editor Dan Roan:, external Present and correct. Wales prepare for kick off.

Robert Jones
Former Wales scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"There's been a lot of kidology going on before this game and it's just to get the upper hand and find the smallest of things that will help your team get the result.

"If it helps in the lead-up by putting pressure on the referee and the coaches, it's all worth it."

Image source, Getty Images

Jerome Garces is the man with the whistle this evening.

The Frenchman was given a subtle little nudge by Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards in the pre-match press conference.

Edwards said that he wanted the officials to keep a close eye on England's use of decoy runners in front of the ball-carrier.

Seeds sown. Let's see if they sprout into some favourable midfield calls.

England's line-out stats were impressive in 2014, and Dylan Hartley boasted the most successful throws (100 out of 106) in 2014, as well as the best success rate of any hooker to throw at least 10 successful throws.

He is a disciplinary powder keg though. I'm sure the Welsh front row will be whispering some sweet nothings at the first scrum to see if they can rile him up.

Jenni in Newtownards: Tonight's game is not just important for this year's Six Nations, but also for the World Cup. The winner will earn a massive psychological boost ahead of next September's RWC pool match.

Andrew in Richhill: Other than the world-class rugby on show, the best part of the Six Nations Championship is the national anthems. The whole tournament just screams passion and pride.

Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"These types of games are always won and lost in the front rows and it's an area where you don't see a lot on the face of it.

"The game really stems from that because if you get any kind of momentum in the scrum and get the ball out to your backs quickly, it shows the referee you are more likely to be positive."