Sean Fitzpatrick: Welsh inching their way to Lions and Six Nations glory

While I am sure Sir Clive Woodward is still concerned at the loss of form by the English, he must be delighted not just with the form of the Welsh but also their approach.

I have watched the Welsh three times now and have been struck by their rising levels of confidence.

Those who read this column regularly will know that I talk a lot about the "top two inches" when it comes to rugby players and teams. Confidence is one of those things that helps players use that top two inches to best effect - it helps them make the right decisions at the right times, which can be the winning and losing of a game.

But what is even more impressive about the Welsh right now is that they are prepared to have a go. Woodward must be happy with that, as the Lions will need scoring power in New Zealand. They will also need some real commitment and drive at ruck and maul and that is another thing the Welsh have been showing.

I think Wales have been exceptional. If you look at the match against France in the Six Nations, I was like everyone else in thinking they were dead and buried in the first half. But I believe Mike Ruddock was quietly happy - even though they were eight points down - and told his team that all they had to do was get the ball and take opportunities.

From there, I don't think France played that badly. Wales just outdid them. The French prop, Nicolas Mas, had a good game. I was also impressed with Yannick Nyanga, the new openside flanker. He was in the game the whole way and even a player the quality of Olivier Magne could struggle to get his place back from this guy.

But the Welsh pretty much did to the French what the All Blacks did so well at the end of last year. They unsettled them, strung a few passes together and their confidence soared. Their scrum performed, then they started to try things.

It's too early to talk about a new golden era for Welsh rugby but they obviously believe in themselves and definitely have talent.

I was in the players' tunnel after the match and the Welsh players were doing a lap of honour and I saw Scott Johnson, the Australian who is Wales' skills coach.

He grinned at me and said: "They're never going to die wondering, are they?" He meant the Welsh have it in their blood to have a go; to see what they can do with ball in hand - and I think that's a quality Woodward will want to maintain and nourish in the Lions.

I thought Martyn Williams, the openside flanker, had another outstanding match and I am not just talking about his two tries. After a quiet first half, his general play impressed as the Welsh pack came out and did the business in the second half.

First five-eighths Stephen Jones probably turned himself into the No 1 contender for the No 10 shirt. He had a very effective game on attack, defence and with his kicking and got involved with his team, prodding and encouraging - a good leadership display.

The Irish are doing some of these same things at ruck and maul and did them effectively enough against the English. I thought the locks, Paul O'Connell and Malcolm O'Kelly, went well even though they had troubles in the lineouts.

But the overwhelming feeling from that game was that England are still not showing up. There was a huge fuss over here about the refereeing but, believe me, that is a side issue.

They should be more concerned about their forwards who aren't really coming to the party, like Joe Worsley, Steve Thompson and Lewis Moody. England are playing a static game. They're getting slow ball and, when they move it, you are getting Thompson and Worsley and others standing out in their back-line and slowing things down.

Wales and Ireland are getting it right. The forwards are forwards and the backs are backs and they are getting results. Their clash to end the Six Nations this year should be a beauty.