England v Wales: Wales captain Gareth Thomas is more fired up than ever to lead his country to victory against England and on to a repeat of last year's heroics.

"As someone who had never been on a Lions tour before, I'd always thought then when it came to playing against each other the year after it wouldn't really be as fiery, because you'd have got to know them," said Thomas. "But, if anything, it's more so, because everyone wants to get one over on their mates."

A former postman, Thomas' horizons have recently broadened significantly. In the last 18 months he has excelled as captain of his country and led them to a Grand Slam, won the European Cup with Toulouse, joined the Lions tour and finished as captain for the second two Tests.

"Matt Dawson is one of those players I got to know on the Lions tour. I didn't know him before, but I had an impression of him - and I will never do that again. I totally despised him, the way he plays, the fact he is on television, there was a bit of jealousy, everything. I had thought he was a bit of a show-pony, but he is a top bloke and if you have your backs against the wall you want him on your team.

"It's phenomenal. My mates back in Pencoed don't really like me talking about it, but I don't care. Matt Dawson, Josh Lewsey and Martin Corry are all top blokes."

ENGLAND: J Lewsey (Wasps); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), J Noon (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester), B Cohen (Northampton); C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), H Ellis (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), S Thompson (Northampton), M Stevens (Bath), S Borthwick (Bath), D Grewcock (Bath), J Worsley (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester, capt). Replacements: L Mears (Bath), J White (Leicester), S Shaw (Wasps), L Dallaglio (Wasps), M Dawson (Wasps), A Goode (Leicester), T Voyce (Wasps).

WALES: G Thomas (Toulouse, capt); M Jones (Llanelli), H Luscombe (N-G Dragons), M Watkins (Llanelli), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Clermont Auvergne), D Peel (Llanelli); D Jones (Ospreys), R Thomas (Cardiff), A Jones (Ospreys), I Gough (N-G Dragons), R Sidoli (Cardiff), C Charvis (Newcastle), M Williams (Cardiff), M Owen (N-G Dragons). Replacements: M Davies (Gloucester), G Jenkins (Cardiff), A Popham (Llanelli), G Delve (Bath), G Cooper (N-G Dragons), N Robinson (Cardiff), L Byrne (Llanelli).

Referee: P Honiss (New Zealand).

England v Wales

Today, Twickenham

Kick-off: 3.30pm

On TV: RTÉ 2, BBC 1