ENGLAND vs WALES
VI Nations, 2nd February 2008
Match Preview by Ed Budge

This ought to be – fortune permitting – the best VI Nations Tournament in some time. This ought to be the tournament that the fans deserved in 2004, the last time the Northern Hemisphere’s international showpiece fell in the wake of a World Cup, brimming with innovation and exciting possibilities. Certainly, the fans’ anticipation has abounded, with the competition boasting 3 new coaches and 4 new captains. And that’s to say nothing of England whose supporters, still reeling from their World Cup shock, have been acting like children who have had to wait until February to open their Christmas presents. The wrapping is now off the so-called ‘Golden Generation’.

Warren Gatland has chosen to plunder the Neath-Swansea area in making his inaugural selection as head coach of Wales with only Mark Jones of Llanelli infiltrating an all-Osprey back division and the re-emergent Martyn Williams, fresh and invigorated like so many an Englishmen from a short spell in the tranquil wilderness of International retirement, supplementing the pack.

Already, an eyebrow or two has been raised. Gatland and his assistants, Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley, will respond to such surprise with little patience and an entirely straight bat. And, in their defence, it is difficult to see how, if at all, they have gone far wrong. Gethin Jenkins, who captained the side against South Africa in Wales last match, may have a right to feel aggrieved, but the demotions of Stephen Jones and Tom Shanklin to the bench show a statement of positive intent from the new boss. Dwayne Peel was not considered because of an injury to his ankle.

It does, however, raise an important issue regarding the depth of Welsh talent. The Ospreys shared a home win each with Gloucester in this year’s Heineken Cup, finishing behind their English counterparts in the final pool standings. While Gatland will tell you that these are the best players available, one senses that this is not quite the same as picking the Toulouse back line for France, or lining up Munstermen en bloc to represent Ireland up front. Why is this International side in all but name only 5th favourites for a club competition?

England will not be taking them lightly. Brian Ashton has made his first steps towards blending youth an experience in the England side, with many an old head watching over the occasional splash of youthful exuberance. The headline decisions have come: at fly-half, where Jonny Wilkinson is preferred to Danny Cipriani; at full back, where Iain Balshaw edges out Mathew Tait who fails even to make the squad; and at number 8, where Nick Easter’s injury has forced him to make way for Luke Narraway, who positively screams out of left field to make his Test debut.

A little bit of hype might have contributed to Tom Croft’s inclusion in the initial squad, but it has been Narraway (along with James Haskell, who starts at 6) who has proved to be the form back row in England since the start of the season. The loose trio bristles with pace and energy.

The other two aforementioned picks will have sprung fewer surprises. Pragmatism always had Wilkinson coming in a head or two in front of Cipriani while Balshaw’s inclusion resists such logical thought processes, opting instead to rely on favouritism and inevitability to explain the selection of the Gloucester full back, who admitted to being surprised by his own inclusion in the initial 32-man party. Mathew Tait was, by all accounts, dreadful against Leicester but to omit him from the 22 altogether makes a mockery of the World Cup loyalty extended elsewhere on the teamsheet to Mark Regan and Andy Gomarsall.

The form of Bath lock Steve Borthwick has proved enough to see him edge out Ben Kay to partner the $6 million man, Simon Shaw, whose recovery from an ankle problem has been nothing short of remarkable. Toby Flood and Mike Tindall form a new centre partnership and Phil Vickery captains the side, and congratulations are due to Lesley Vainikolo and Richard Wigglesworth, both of whom will make their debuts should they emerge from the bench.

A little bit at a time seems to be the message coming from the England camp at present. It has been 20 years since the Welsh left Twickenham with a win, and few would predict one this time around, but Ashton has held a steady hand, resisting the temptation to throw all of his youngsters in at the deep end. It is an admirably sensible selection; it leaves all the right doors open. Regan and Gomarsall are there to keep their respective seats warm; Cipriani will get time on the park to press his case against Wilkinson on a level playing field; Balshaw has been given enough rope with which to hang himself – another bad run and this must surely be it for him?

As is often the case after a World Cup time is on almost everyone’s side (not you, Eddie O’Sullivan). England, in particular, should take two wins from their first two games and move towards a clash in Paris with optimism and gathering faith in some new players. Here’s to all of us having faith restored in the VI Nations, and to this year’s tournament living up to its electric billing.

England: Iain Balshaw, Paul Sackey, Mike Tindall, Toby Flood, David Strettle, Jonny Wilkinson, Andy Gomarsall, Andrew Sheridan, Mark Regan, Phil Vickery (captain), Simon Shaw, Steve Borthwick, James Haskell, Lewis Moody, Luke Narraway.
Replacements: Lee Mears, Matt Stevens, Ben Kay, Tom Rees, Richard Wigglesworth, Danny Cipriani, Lesley Vainikolo.

Wales: Lee Byrne; Shane Williams, Sonny Parker, Gavin Henson, Mark Jones, James Hook, Mike Phillips; Duncan Jones, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Ian Gough, Alun Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones (captain).
Replacements: Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins, Ian Evans, Alix Popham, Gareth Cooper, Stephen Jones, Tom Shanklin.