Severe test for England

England interim coach Stuart Lancaster’s faith in one of the most inexperienced Red Rose sides of recent times will be put to the test when they face a seasoned Wales team in the Six Nations at Twickenham.

For decades England have been accused of being risk-averse but Lancaster has made some bold choices for a match today which could go a long way in determining if he succeeds Martin Johnson on a permanent basis, with the likes of Nick Mallett waiting in the wings.

Now though the question is whether England can follow their coach’s lead.

England have won their opening two matches in the 2012 Six Nations but these have been scrappy one-try victories away to Scotland and Italy, arguably the two weakest teams in the tournament.

Both tries were scored by fly-half Charlie Hodgson as a result of his charge-downs. But Hodgson is out of today’s match with a cut finger and Lancaster has decided to shift his Saracens team-mate Owen Farrell, still only 20, from centre to fly-half where he has performed with distinction for Premiership champions Sarries.

Although the average age of both line-ups is 25, World Cup semi-finalists Wales’s starting side boast a combined 488 caps to their England counterparts’ 182.

Indeed, England will be fielding their most inexperienced Championship side since 1989 at Twickenham, with Lancaster already looking to the 2015 World Cup on home soil.

In all, seven members of England’s 1st XV will be making their first Test start at Twickenham in front of a sell-out 80,000 crowd. And the match will also be Lancaster’s first home game in charge.

Wales have won just once at Twickenham since 1988. That was four years ago when a 26-19 win in coach Warren Gatland’s first game in charge set up a Grand Slam.

This season wins over Ireland and Scotland have taken Wales to the top of the table.

Wales ought to be too strong for England, even if they lost to South Africa, France and Australia at the World Cup.

But favouritism does not always sit well with the Welsh.

However, lock Alun-Wyn Jones said: “People are saying we are the favourites, and we need to be comfortable with that because it is what happens when your performances and confidence grow.”

Playing today: Ireland vs Italy (14.30); England vs Wales (17.00).

Tomorrow: Scotland vs France (16.00).

Standings: Wales (2-0-0) 4; England (2-0-0) 4; France (1-0-0) 2; Ireland (0-0-1) 0; Scotland (0-0-2) 0; Italy (0-0-2) 0.