Late injury blow for England as Moody withdraws

Preview: Andy Robinson must wonder why fate has conspired against him so emphatically. The England coach, in his first Six Nations Championship, has watched helplessly as the treatment room has become more crowded than the training paddock. The final ignominy was Lewis Moody's withdrawal yesterday lunchtime because of injury, his place in the back row going to Sale's Chris Jones.

The number and calibre of the players not available to Robinson would be potentially catastrophic for any team and that pall may still descend on English hopes tonight in Cardiff.

Robinson has entrusted youth with the task of upholding English honour in a city that no longer carries any foreboding for those wearing the red rose.

It is 12 years since Wales managed a victory against England in Cardiff and while the Arms Park gave way to the Millennium Stadium during that time it didn't coincide with a change of fortune. It wasn't always so. There are those Welsh supporters not yet in their dotage who would recall with some relish that 28-year period from 1963-1991 when a succession of England teams were denied a single victorious crossing of the Severn bridge.

Welsh supporters can catch the whiff of blood, the sight of a patched up England whetting the appetite for this clash. Nothing appeals more to a son of the Principality than the taste of English claret. The autumn internationals have simply fuelled Welsh belief that the humiliation of recent seasons is at an end.

Mike Ruddock has presided over a period of tangible, measured improvement in the Test arena but would be the first to counsel caution. Welsh rugby has flattered to deceive on several occasions in the recent past and today's game will offer a serious benchmark. It is time to add results to encouraging performances.

England are vulnerable, particularly behind the scrum, where they possess a surfeit of young if unproven talent.

Newcastle Falcons centre Mathew Tait celebrates his 19th birthday tomorrow forming a fledgling midfield partnership with his Newcastle team-mate Jamie Noon. Robinson's contention that he has "never been afraid to select young, talented players if I feel they are ready", one senses is not the ringing endorsement it may appear at superficial level.

If any of Mike Tindall, Will Greenwood or Stuart Abbott had been available then Tait would have been preparing for a Zurich Premiership game this afternoon. Injuries have fast tracked the 19-year-old to a Six Nations start, where he'll have to offer something more substantial than potential over 80 minutes.

In one respect he's slightly fortunate that Sonny Parker is missing from the Welsh line-up through injury. The New Zealand-born runner adds a little bit more guile than his replacement Tom Shanklin. England's back three of Jason Robinson, Mark Cueto and Josh Lewsey have the ability to cause serious problems but much will depend on outhalf Charlie Hodgson.

The Sale playmaker is noted for his distribution but has shown a frailty when placed under serious pressure both in place-kicking and the physical exchanges. Matt Dawson's return at scrumhalf adds experience to the halfback cocktail and Robinson will expect him to provide direction and leadership.

Up front England's tight five is a strong scrummaging unit but there remains one or two question marks.

Leicester lock Ben Kay has struggled at club level, no longer considered an automatic first choice, and must be considered fortunate to be included ahead of Bath's Steve Borthwick.

Then there is the small matter of hooker Steve Thompson's lineout throwing.

As Ireland demonstrated at Twickenham last year, his technique can implode under sustained pressure - Jones' late inclusion will help England in this facet of play - and it's reasonable to expect Wales to contest this area with considerable vigour. Thompson's form around the pitch though has been exceptional.

England's back row is long on athletic ability but short on experience. Jones hasn't played since last year's summer Test against New Zealand while Andy Hazell has only a couple of caps to his name and along with Cueto, Tait and Noon is something of an unproven quantity at test level.

The visitors will target the Welsh scrum. How Gethin Jenkins fares against Julian White could be pivotal to the outcome of the forward exchanges.

Wales have opted for Mefyn Davies ahead of veteran Robin McBryde at hooker and preferred the physically bigger Rob Sidoli over Gareth Llewellyn in the second. They are fortunate that they can call upon Martyn Williams - winning his 50th cap - in place of the injured Colin Charvis.

There is a nice balance to the halfback partnership of Dwayne Peel and Stephen Jones but if the Welsh backs are to thrive then it is 23-year-old Gavin Henson at inside centre who's likely to be a catalyst. The home supporters will want to see Shane Williams and captain Gareth Thomas in particular with ball in hand. As they demonstrated in the November internationals Wales aren't afraid to take risks in possession, an attitude that makes them so dangerous.

The WRU may opt to close the roof thereby generating an even noisier backdrop, something that Ruddock alluded to during the week. He is looking for a passionate response on and off the pitch.

The accepted wisdom is that packs win matches and backs decide by how much.

If that holds true then England, for all their injuries, still hold the edge. Wales, for all the improvement during the end of last year, still have to bridge the gap between playing well and winning.

They'll never have a better chance but that in itself doesn't guarantee a victory.

England, just.