Rugby World Cup adds spice to Wales-England clash

Wales versus England remains a rugby Test match that never fails to whet the appetite and stir emotions.
This year, there is the added spice of a World Cup largely on English soil in which the two long-time rivals have been drawn in the same tough pool.
Bragging rights are up for grabs in Friday evening's match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, where 10 years ago Gavin Henson nailed a long-range penalty that handed the Welsh victory over England and opened the way to a first Grand Slam in 27 years.
After Warren Gatland took over in 2007, the Wales team then went on to clinch Grand Slams in 2008 and 2012 and the title in 2013, but have been unable to translate that form on a consistent level against the Southern Hemisphere giants of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
They did manage to edge a weary-looking Springbok team in November, as England beat Australia, nicely setting up Friday's match as both teams strive to consolidate and build momentum with one eye firmly on the World Cup.
For it is only eight months until Wales and England meet again in their crunch pool match at Twickenham on September 26 -- crunch because the pool also includes the Wallabies and unpredictable Fiji, with only two qualifying for the knock-out phase.
The English arrive in Cardiff ravaged by injuries to key players such as centres Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt and Kyle Eastmond, fly-half Owen Farrell, the lock trio of Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes and Geoff Parling, backrowers Tom Wood and Ben Morgan, and prop David Wilson.
Coach Stuart Lancaster named Luther Burrell and Jonathan Joseph in a new midfield partnership and handed bench recalls to the experienced pair of fly-half Danny Cipriani and No 8 Nick Easter.
Prop Dan Cole returns at tighthead having recovered from a foot problem for his first Test appearance in almost a year.
- Nine survivors -
The team, however, features only nine survivors from the side that started the 26-17 victory over Australia at Twickenham in the climax to the November programme, and just five from the XV thrashed 30-3 by Wales in Cardiff two years ago.
"While we have certain players unavailable through injury, it's great to be able to welcome back guys who missed the November series such as Dan Cole, Mako Vunipola and Tom Youngs," said Lancaster, who had his team training on Wednesday to the sound of hymns being blasted out over loud speakers in a bid to get used to the atmosphere awaiting them in Cardiff.
"Their experience, alongside that of players like Tom Croft and Nick Easter, will be invaluable against a strong Welsh team."
Wales, which has lost just one of their last nine Six Nations matches at Millennium Stadium (22-30 to Ireland in the opening round in 2013), can boast relative stability in their team.
Gatland has made two changes from the side that beat South Africa 12-6 in November, winger George North and hooker Richard Hibbard both starting in place of Liam Williams and Scott Baldwin.
"England have so much strength in depth I don't think it matters who they pick," Gatland said of England's supposed injury problems.
"Last year they were able to go to New Zealand and push the All Blacks really close in that first game (of the tour) and then make a number of changes the for second and third Tests."
Friday's match will be England's first at the Millennium Stadium since the 30-3 defeat in 2013 which cost them the Grand Slam.
The last English clean sweep in the Six Nations dates back to 2003 when they went on to win the World Cup, a precedent Wales will be seeking to avoid come match day.
Source: AFP