England's most capped full-back, Matt Perry, writes for the Echo and looks forward to tomorrow's Six Nations Opener with Wales in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

SAY what you like about our victories over South Africa, Australia and Argentina in the summer and autumn, the real business starts tomorrow in Cardiff.

Those games were friendlies, if there is any such thing in international rugby, and while it was great to win it didn't mean as much as a Six Nations Grand Slam.

We've missed out on the Slam two years' running. Last year the Scots beat us against the odds in the rain and mud at Murrayfield. The year before that, Scott Gibbs and Wales stole it from under our noses with a last-minute try at Wembley.

If we are to make amends this year we need to make a winning start against Scotty and his mates tomorrow. I'm on the bench for this game but I'm hoping to get on at some point. I've never played at the Millennium Stadium and running out there would be an experience to savour.

The Welsh fans are a fantastic bunch, really knowledgeable and passionate, and they love to hate the English. Their singing at the old Arms Park was something to behold; inside the new amphitheatre it will be deafening, with or without the lid on.

There's been a lot of talk about whether the incredible moving roof over the Millennium Stadium should be closed. My own view is that it would be great if it was shut. Having the top down would treble the atmosphere. It is a fantastically compact stadium and a closed roof would bring the place up to boiling point. We're experienced enough not to let that get to us.

And a closed roof would also mean having a dry pitch and I think that will suit us and the kind of attacking, running rugby we are trying to play these days.

The Welsh are looking a strong, fit outfit these days and a lot of their senior players are coming into good form. Both of the Quinnell brothers have been awesome in club rugby lately and Scott, particularly, can punch big holes in you.

Neil Jenkins, of course, will punish us with his boot if we give him chance. But we've got danger men of our own and we'll be looking to score tries. We have the personnel and game plan now to attack from anywhere on the pitch. I forecast an exciting game - and, I hope, an England win!