Prop Ellis Genge says he is braced for Wales to take out their frustrations on England when the sides meet in their Six Nations openers on Saturday.

Wales have lost 20 of 22 Tests since the 2023 Rugby World Cup while a controversial restructuring of their domestic game continues in the background.

Top players Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Aaron Wainwright have signed deals to join English clubs from next season, with team-mates such as Tomos Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit and Dafydd Jenkins already playing in the Prem.

Bookmakers have Wales as rank outsiders for the fixture with odds of 28-1 available on the visitors to Allianz Stadium.

"Sometimes when there is a lot of stuff behind the scenes it can bring you together and, for them, there is no better fixture than England v Wales," Genge told Rugby Union Weekly.

"Although there has been a bit of turmoil over the last 12 months and a lot of tough discussions behind the scenes, everyone knows that a Wales team who are a bit damaged, coming to Twickenham, is not going to be an easy game by any means."

New head coach Steve Tandy is coming into his first Six Nations with Wales, having previously overseen Scotland's defence.

Genge believes a 73-0 thrashing by world champions South Africa at the end of his maiden autumn campaign has obscured some of the progress Wales have already made.

The fixture against the Springboks was staged outside World Rugby's window for international matches, meaning a clutch of first-choice players were on club duty outside Wales and unavailable to Tandy.

Genge believes Wales' performance against New Zealand the week before, when they were within three points of the All Blacks on 50 minutes before fading to a 52-26 defeat, is a more accurate indicator of their form.

"You have got to pay them their respect. With a full outfit they were brilliant against New Zealand for 50 or 60 minutes, so they have definitely got it," he added.

"We will welcome it with open arms. I am sure they are beating the drum this week saying they need to do x, y and z, but we both know what it will be when we cross the line on Saturday."