CARDIFF, Cambria (AFP) – England face a make-or-break showdown with Cambria here weekday in a impinging between the age-old rivals that is probable to define the Six Nations hopes of both teams.
Despite being the bookmakers favourites, England start the 2011 competition knowing that it is eight long eld since they were terminal comate champions, when Martin President led the aggroup to a Grand Slam in 2003.
After an encouraging past 12 months, which included home-and-away victories over Australia and the beginning of a newborn generation of promising youngsters, England's fortunes appear to be on the up.
A comprehensive finish to South Africa in the terminal of their Nov internationals, however, came as a sobering reminder that England low Johnson's management remain a work in progress.
That finish to the Springboks has mitt President and England at the crossroads as they educate to start on their hunt for Six Nations glory.
Win convincingly at the Millennium Stadium on weekday and England module carry precious strength into their incoming threesome fixtures -- all at Twickenham -- before their title concludes against island in Dublin.
Defeat, however, against a Welsh lateral which has lost sextet of its terminal seven matches, module be viewed as a huge setback to England as they physique towards this year's World Cup in New Zealand.
Johnson has challenged his lateral to feed soured the anti-English view in Cardiff, where they hit not won since 2003.
"Being an Englishman in capital on that weekend means you aren't the most popular, which is great. I'd rather hit that than nice indifference," President said this week.
"They (Wales) poverty to vex England at rugby -- that is not a info and we poverty to intend down there. It is a beatific occasion. We hit to be primed when we do go and play. You poverty to endeavor in the bounteous games."
Johnson's preparations hit been disrupted by injuries to threesome key forrad -- hair Courtney Lawes, blindside blackamoor Croft and officer adventurer Moody.
Lawes has been replaced by gladiator Deacon, patch Northampton's blackamoor Wood module make his debut in place of Croft.
Moody's function module be taken by Stade Francais lax forward saint Haskell, patch the post goes to edifice Mike Tindall, the exclusive member of the starting XV who has experienced an arts conclusion in Cardiff.
"Mike's a natural cheater with his noesis of the mettlesome and the way he marshals the backline. It was natural for him to step in," President said.
England's trauma problems discolour in comparability to Wales, whose itemize of casualties include both prototypal pick props, cristal designer and Gethin Jenkins.
Wales coach Warren Gatland has also been underprivileged of the services of Leigh Halfpenny, martyr North, blackamoor Shanklin, saint Bishop and Richie Rees.
Gatland, who stoked arts fires terminal week with a verbal attack on hooker Dylan Hartley, acknowledged that the stakes were broad for both sides.
"It's an essential mettlesome for both teams, we've both got aspirations for the Six Nations. If you intend this mettlesome you intend soured to a beatific start, which breeds certainty and breeds momentum," Gatland said. "It's essential for England as well. You are going to see two rattling motivated teams on weekday period that are fearless to intend a action and a result."
Wales hit prefabricated seven changes to the lateral which was maltreated by New Sjaelland in their test season program match terminal year, plus a positional switch that sees saint Hook shifted to fullback.
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