RUGBY:LOSING THREE times to England in the same calendar year is about as bad as it gets for Welshmen of a certain age. It has happened once before – in their rivals' World Cup-winning year of 2003 – which explains Warren Gatland's demand for a different outcome today. There is only so much looting and rioting you can legally do on a modern rugby pitch but inviting a Welsh pack to throw the kitchen sink at England is a different matter.
For the visitors this is welcome news. They won at the Millennium Stadium on a raucous Friday night in February but their last away trip, to Dublin the following month, ended in a painful mugging. To prosper at the World Cup they have to make better decisions if and when their forwards come under pressure, a more likely scenario away from home.
Amid all the endless training and fitness sessions this summer, the management have repeatedly hammered home that message. The players, it seems, have got it, having been forced to re-examine how and why their Six Nations Grand Slam hopes unravelled at the Aviva Stadium.
If England can locate the right balance between the fast forward mode that tore apart Australia last November and their more traditional virtues, they could yet go a long way in New Zealand. Two away defeats this month, though, would scarcely inspire confidence, although the Springbok coach, Peter De Villiers, hit the nail on the head this week pointing out: “Next year people will forget two losses but people will remember who the champion of the world is for four years.”
Wales, who meet South Africa in their opening pool game in less than a month, are braced for a physical collision, hence the desire to front up to a strong England pack. Sam Warburton made a strong impression in last Saturday’s 23-19 defeat but more will be required from the Welsh tight five if the home backs are to thrive. If Chris Ashton is unfit, Matt Banahan will come into the side with Delon Armitage on the bench.
WALES: J Hook; G North, J Roberts, G Henson, Shane Williams; R Priestland, M Phillips; P James, L Burns, C Mitchell; L Charteris, A-W Jones; D Lydiate, S Warburton, T Faletau. Replacements: H Bennett, R Bevington, J Turnbull, J Tipuric, T Knoyle, Scott Williams, A Brew.
ENGLAND: B Foden; C Ashton. M Tindall, S Hape, M Cueto; T Flood, R Wigglesworth; A Corbisiero, S Thompson, D Cole; L Deacon, C Lawes; T Wood, H Fourie, N Easter. Replacements: L Mears, M Stevens, T Palmer), J Haskell, D Care, C Hodgson, M Banahan.
Referee: A Rolland (Ireland).
