England need to get shirty

England will wear a new kit when they walk out for their 'friendly' against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday, but will the team performance mark a new dawn for the World Cup holders or will an old enemy provide a wake-up call for Brian Ashton and his charges? While both Ashton and his Welsh counterpart Gareth Jenkins admit that they are still looking for their strongest line-ups and both sides have added new faces in part to rest some of their stars, do not be fooled into thinking this match is meaningless. For a start there has never been a friendly international between these two sides and the mere idea of one will have them choking on their leek soup up and down The Valleys. Secondly there are just six weeks to go before the World Cup starts so it's very late to be thinking in terms of finalising your starting line-up - Ashton in particular knows his starting XV and will only be swayed by an injured player or a stinker, remeber his sdie have lost 12 of their last 16 interntionals. Lastly and more importantly it is very likely that these two sides will meet in the World Cup quarter-final. Wales play Australia at home in mid-September and if successful they would face an England team in the last eight, providing the latter lose out to South Africa in their Pool match. Given that scenario both sides will be looking to score psychological points at Twickenham. England field a new look team and two choices spring to mind with Dan Hipkiss starting at outside centre and Simon Shaw at lock. Both players enjoyed huge seasons with Leicester and Wasps and deserve their chance. They bring an edge to the team that has been lacking in recent internationals and can go a long way to cementing their places in the World Cup squad. Jenkins had said his selection for Twickenham would reflect his first-choice World Cup line-up, but his side has an experimental feel to it with stars such as Dwayne Peel and James Hook rested. As for the game, England will keep the ball up front to punch holes in the Wales defence and to tire the opposition - in other words they will return to type. This goes against Ashton's free-flowing rugby philosophy but to run the ball against Wales does not get the side prepared for the physical battle up front they will face against the Springboks and also plays into Welsh hands as they want a loose fast-paced game so they can play in the fabled Welsh Way. England will control this game but after months of training and not playing expect it to be dull and scrappy affair with mistakes aplenty and points at a premium. Take England to win by six to 10 points but for the crowd to be left wondering if the home side can put up a decent fist of defending their World Cup crown. Verdict: 1pt England to win by 6-10 points @ 6/1 (Bet365, Bluesq)