JONNY May is hoping not to let emotions get the better of him in Cardiff tonight.

The England wing, who burst onto the international scene in the Six Nations last year playing in every game, has again made the starting line-up for tonight’s opener at the Millennium Stadium.

As has now become a tradition, members of May’s former team, Royal Wootton Bassett, will be gathering at Ballard’s Ash to watch the game on a big screen and the Chiseldon-born player has said that that support from friends and family has been huge.

The 24-year-old will be hoping to channel those emotions this evening and not let the occasion get the better of him.

“Their emotional drivers that can really push you to give it your best and get stuck in and go as hard as you can on a game day,” said May.

“It is easy to get carried away a bit as well, because they are great people and my family, I love them so much, and to think about them on a game day, what they have done for me, it is easy to get me too emotional.

“I have got to save it to use on the pitch, use the emotion that my family, friends and teammates have provided me over the years and use that to my advantage on the pitch.”

England will be hoping to start their Six Nations campaign off on the right foot tonight and May admits there are a lot of expectations among the squad to do well in the tournament.

Despite wingers being judged by tries and getting the monkey off his back in autumn, scoring his first try against New Zealand, May is not focused on the white line and would prefer team success over personal triumphs.

“I am just excited really,” added May.

“I think we have a great squad and have got a lot of expectation within our group individually and collectively and we have just got to work hard and go out there and try and win games.

“My aim is just to keep working hard and try to improve as a player and that doesn’t necessarily mean more tries.

“Tries are obviously a great thing and to score for your country is brilliant but if that is not the right thing to do at the time, it might be better to pass and let someone else get the try.

“I think I have improved and I am still progressing now. The pleasing thing I can notice is that certain elements of my game are improving.”