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John Terry, Gareth Bale drafted in to motivate England and Wales players

John Terry, former England football captain, talks to England team manager Richard Hill (left) during an England training session at Pennyhill Park, Surrey -- Feb. 19, 2018. David Rogers/Getty Images

Both England and Wales have turned to unlikely sources for inspiration ahead of their crucial Six Nations clash at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

Former England football captain John Terry was brought into his country's training camp to give a talk on leadership in a bid to motivate Eddie Jones's 25-man squad.

Meanwhile Wales were treated to a one-man play with Gareth Bale in the lead role -- not the famous footballer Gareth Bale mind, his namesake the actor Gareth Bale.

Former Chelsea captain Terry -- who became assistant manager at Championship side Aston Villa after retiring in October -- spent time with players and coaches at England's Surrey training base.

The former defender earned 78 caps for England and won 17 trophies with Chelsea, including five Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League.

"The players were really engaged by talking to him. He gave some great messages," forwards coach Steve Borthwick said.

"He spoke about the traits in the highly successful teams he has been a part of, which are consistent with the type of thing we talk about: the competitiveness, the drive in training, players taking responsibility.

"We spoke about the leadership density, and he spoke about the strength of that within the teams he has been part of. All the successful teams have had a great group of leaders. That's something we're well aware of and continue to try and develop."

Meanwhile Bale brought the life of Welsh rugby legend Ray Gravell to a makeshift stage in the away dressing room of the Principality Stadium for most of the Wales squad to enjoy.

The actor has been performing the role in Owen Thomas' play about the Llanelli Scarlets centre, who was renowned for his patriotism, for more than four years.

"The play was very good. It was powerful and the boys that went certainly enjoyed it," said wing George North. "It definitely showed the pride Grav had and we all have in Wales. [forwards coach] Robin McBryde and Ken Owens were both crying."

McBryde said the play had put the squad in the right frame of mind at the start of a vital week in their Six Nations campaign.

"We should have played straight after the performance to be honest with you. It has really put us in a good place mentally," he said. "If we can in any way match Gareth's performance on Saturday, it doesn't matter if the roof is open or closed, there will only be one result.

"It was good for some of the players to listen in about one of the best and most passionate rugby players that Wales has produced."

England and Wales are the only two teams to have won their opening two games in the Six Nations and the winner in Cardiff will be odds-on favourite to take the title in March.

Information from Reuters was used in this article.