England v Wales:No one in the England camp is using the words "friendly" or "warm-up" to describe today's encounter with Wales. Jason Robinson, on the eve of potentially his last appearance at Twickenham before retirement, calls it "a massive game" and is urging his side to take "a giant step forward". This is not destined to be a mellow "deckchair" Test.
Above all, the expected crowd of about 64,000 require proof that England's big beasts are finally stirring ahead of the World Cup. Brian Ashton's team are also still smarting at the memory of their 27-18 thumping in Cardiff in March and possess a huge pack capable of inflicting substantial revenge. "That was my last appearance in an England shirt and it left a very sour taste," said Martin Corry, who switches to number six today. "There'll be a bit more than a few jellybeans on the pitch."
As for Andy Farrell, Dan Hipkiss and others, the desire to nail down a place in Ashton's final 30 could scarcely be more intense. The Wales coach, Gareth Jenkins, has other priorities but could end up regretting his decision not to select more of his better players. "We need this game to know where we're up to," Ashton said. "The players are very much on edge. They can't afford to be rusty."
If all goes well, particularly up front, where England have not bullied anyone for a long time, Ashton believes pre-World Cup forecasts will have to be revised.
"If we can transfer into action what we've been talking about, England may well be in a position to surprise a few people when we get to France," he said. "I'm pretty excited with this bunch of players. We've got five players in the 22 who have captained England and another who has led Great Britain at rugby league. My suspicion is that the occasion won't get to them like it did in Cardiff."
The fitness of another experienced survivor from England's 2003 World Cup win, the centre Mike Tindall, will be reassessed next week but a composed debut from Hipkiss may just resolve that issue.
As for Robinson, entering the final bend of a distinguished career, the birth last Monday of his latest child, a son named Jacob, has not distracted him from his final sporting mission. "I won't miss getting bashed up and limping home or my wife physically helping me into bed because I can't physically do it myself," he said. "I don't think I'll miss the playing side because I've done everything I want to do. But I'm looking forward to a big finish to my career. Nobody likes to crash and burn."
The former Wales and Lions forward Scott Quinnell, meanwhile, is hoping to make a full recovery after a freak accident in his bathroom. There were fears the 34-year-old might lose the feeling in two fingers as a result of slashing his right triceps tendon and suffering deep cuts to his hand and knee when he slipped and fell through a glass shower door at his home near Llanelli on Wednesday.
Quinnell, who had been due to act as a television summariser at Twickenham, underwent an operation in Carmarthen. "They've thoroughly repaired the tendon," said his wife, Nicola. "They've also repaired the nerve damage in his hand and expect a full recovery."
ENGLAND:M Cueto; D Strettle, D Hipkiss, A Farrell, J Robinson; J Wilkinson, S Perry: A Sheridan, M Regan, P Vickery (capt), S Shaw, S Borthwick, M Corry, J Worsley, N Easter. Replacements: G Chuter, M Stevens, L Moody, L Dallaglio, P Richards, T Flood, M Tait.
WALES:L Byrne; A Brew, T Shanklin, G thomas (capt), D James; C Sweeney, G Cooper; I Thomas, H Bennett, C Horsman, W James, R Sidoli, A Wyn Jones, C Charvis, M Owen. Replacements: G Jenkins, R Thomas, T R Thomas, A Popham, M Philips, J Hook, T James.
Referee: J Jutge(France).
