Now let's play ball! Can new England cope with Welsh onslaught at Twickenham

Stuart Lancaster's novice England team will brace themselves for a heavyweight Welsh onslaught at Twickenham on Saturday, with the RBS Six Nations title challenge and their coach’s job prospects on the line.

Wales have won just once at HQ since 1988, but Warren Gatland’s side will go into this pivotal clash as clear favourites in light of their swaggering victories over Ireland and Scotland and the depth of Lions class in their ranks.

The visitors, armed with an array of giant backs such as Jamie Roberts and George North, are top of the table but this is a showdown of two undefeated nations as England have also claimed two wins so far, albeit less convincingly.

Raring to go: England train at Twickenham on Friday

For the capacity crowd of 82,000, the traditional sense of fevered anticipation generated by this historic and often bitter cross-border rivalry will be heightened by the fact that so many reputations are at stake.

This is an occasion of profound importance for the English game as a whole. It is the first major opportunity in front of a home audience for the national team to deliver an antidote to the failure and controversy of the World Cup. While there has been so much sterling work done behind the scenes to provide an image overhaul and reconnect with the rugby public, nothing would provide a greater boost to the sport than the sight of a young England team enthralling their fans and attracting positive attention for the vibrancy of their play, rather than negative attention for their off-field antics.

For Lancaster, this game will define his concerted quest to claim the England head coach role long-term. Another victory, this time against opponents of the highest calibre, may be enough to convince the RFU kingmakers that he is the right man to succeed Martin Johnson on a full-time basis ahead of the home World Cup in 2015. He has gone for broke with a gambler’s roll of the dice in selecting a raw, untried line-up, featuring 20-year-old Owen Farrell at fly-half and with a meagre tally of just 182 caps among the starting XV – the lowest such figure for a championship fixture since 1989. Wales have more Test experience on their bench than England have starting.

Rookie squad: Chris Robshaw (right) leads an inexperienced side

For Gatland and the entire Wales set-up, this match will serve as a benchmark of their development – to prove or cast doubt on the growing belief that there is another golden age in the offing.

Despite the sustained acclaim for their World Cup campaign, they wound up losing three games against major opposition – South Africa, France and Australia – before a subsequent defeat against the Wallabies back in Cardiff two months ago. For all their undoubted class and physical clout, dedication and abundant potential, this Welsh side have yet to provide evidence that they can close out big games under extreme pressure, and that is sure to be the scenario they face on Saturday.

Based on the relative size, Test pedigree and proven all-round skill within both sides, Wales have been identified as the nailed-on favourites, which in itself presents a novel psychological challenge to the visitors, who are far more at ease staying beneath the radar as the underdogs, without the weight of expectation.

Back in the mix: Manu Tuilagi starts for England

Instead, that is the role England have been cast in and they are quite happy to harness it for their own ends.

Andy Farrell, Owen’s father and one of Lancaster’s two assistant coaches, set the scene for this potentially explosive encounter by suggesting that the hosts will feed off the fact that they are being written off in many quarters. For all the attention to detail in terms of fitness and strategy, England will also aim to fall back on more base virtues of pride and defiance.

Asked whether being depicted as underdogs will provide motivation, he said: ‘It adds spice to the game. People are calling us underdogs – we are playing a good side who have had some time together. We are two games into our journey and we want that journey to keep improving. It will get the juices flowing at the weekend to see that improvement and send the fans home with something to be proud of.’

Do or die: Stuart Lancaster has gambled with his selection

As both a coach and a father, Farrell Snr will send Owen out into the maelstrom as the leader of England’s attacking game, adamant that he can cope with the added demands after being picked at fly-half in light of the finger injury suffered by Charlie Hodgson. That switch left room for Manu Tuilagi to return as another 20-year-old rookie in the midfield area, while England will have another trio making first Test starts – Geoff Parling in the second row, Ben Morgan at No 8 and Lee Dickson at scrum-half.

Thus, the home side will rely on an inexperienced ‘spine’ in the key decision-making positions. This will be an occasion for trusting potential. It is a day when Lancaster will discover if his optimistic theories can become glorious practice.

Whatever the personal agenda of wanting to stay in office after this Six Nations, the interim head coach has put together a team for the future, who must somehow deliver the goods today. It would appear to be a selfless act founded on a need to address the bigger picture of long-term progression, but the fear is that the brave new world will be shortlived if Wales run amok and maul England before they have found their feet.

First start: Ben Morgan plays at No 8 for England

However, Lancaster does not believe there will be a mass outbreak of stage fright among his side. The coach believes his tyros will be enhanced rather than diminished by the occasion.

‘I think it will be an inspiration to our lads,’ he said. ‘If you are a Lee Dickson or a Ben Morgan, and all you’ve dreamed about is playing at Twickenham and you’ve now got the opportunity in front of 82,000 people to play there, how can that be anything other than inspiring It will be terrifying only if you let it be. We need to create an environment where we’re in a relaxed-but-ready frame of mind.

‘We recognise (the scale of) the occasion and everything that goes with it, but equally we don’t get ourselves into a state where we become too anxious about it.’

Of course, the pressure equation works both ways – it is a factor for Wales, too. At face value, they have an advantage in most areas. They have greater weight and conviction out wide, with Rhys Priestland perfectly capable of unleashing the beasts; Roberts and North, Alex Cuthbert and Jonathan Davies. There is more established cohesion in their attacking game and greater depth to their kicking game, with Leigh Halfpenny at full back and Stephen Jones on the bench.

Final preparations: Robshaw rallies the troops

They have a scrum with more battle honours, thanks to the presence of Lions Test props in Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones, and a back row which should hold the aces, with captain Sam Warburton’s breakdown prowess, Dan Lydiate’s destructive work-rate and Toby Faletau’s carrying class.

Yet, in theory, England can match fire with some fire of their own. The back three of Ben Foden, Chris Ashton and Dave Strettle are lethal strike runners and finishers, but they have had so little ball that they may not have any form to speak of. Brad Barritt is a defensive bulwark in midfield, alongside the more volatile Tuilagi, who could turn the game.

In theory, Farrell can stay composed and kick his goals to punish Welsh indiscretion. In theory, Dickson will bring much-needed tempo and Morgan will generate vital forward momentum. In theory, Parling can improve the line-out operation. In theory, Dan Cole can anchor an effective scrum. In theory, the likes of Toby Flood, Courtney Lawes and Ben Youngs can add clout from the bench.

In theory, England can win. In practice, if Wales aren’t overcome by all the hype and expectation, they should prevail by a narrow margin.