Sam Warburton will demand that Wales roar into tonight’s block-busting Six Nations opener against England with the same intensity and passion they delivered in devastating fashion two years ago.

On that occasion, Six Nations title and Grand Slam-seeking England were ruthlessly dismantled and scattered to all parts of the Millennium Stadium.

Wales’s record 30-3 victory saw them rip Six Nations silverware from England’s grasp and take the third championship crown of Warren Gatland’s coaching reign.

While Wales and England will kick off the tournament this time around rather than provide its finale, Warburton wants the same approach from a team that includes 11 players who started in 2013.

“Two years ago, the fact we came out with such intensity was because it was a must-win game — the last of the championship — and we only had one opportunity to win by eight points or more to take the championship,” said Wales skipper Warburton, who is poised for his 50th cap.

“We have to treat this game with the same attitude as two years ago. It is a must-win fixture and it is that important.

“If we lose this one, we have three away games out of four to come and it is all uphill from there and extremely tough. It is important to win your home games.”

Both teams arrive in the Six Nations following impressive autumn finales earlier this season that saw Wales sink South Africa and England topple Australia.

England, though, were subsequently rocked by a succession of injury blows, which has denied them key personnel including Manu Tuilagi, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood and Ben Morgan.

There are only five members of the starting XV two years ago who return, while three other players — wing Anthony Watson, centre Jonathan Joseph and lock George Kruis — will make their Six Nations debuts.

Wales, in contrast, have no major injury problems and their pack alone contains more combined Test match appearances than the entire England team.

“It feels a lot nicer coming in with a win under our belt. It does feel better for momentum,” Warburton added.

“We have trained hard and, as we realised in the autumn, when you train hard and put the hours in with the fitness staff, the altitude chamber and the cryotherapy and all that, we do get rewards for it. Hard work is our mantra.

“Some players might gain confidence out of beating (England) but in the last three years England and Wales have beaten each other home and away.

“It never feels as if there is more than a try in it either way, and we have been pretty evenly matched. They have won and lost at the Millennium Stadium, as we have at Twickenham.”