England selections acknowledge Wales is favorite

Wales’ status as Six Nations favourite was confirmed last week by an impressive opening victory and seems to have been further endorsed by England’s selection of a team apparently designed to frustrate the defending champions on Saturday.

While Ireland will be aiming for another sparkling display at Italy this weekend and France could take advantage of a Scotland side still vulnerable away from home, England’s aspirations appear to be no higher than preventing a dynamic Welsh attack from running up a huge score in Cardiff.

Many commentators have urged Martin Johnson to address his side’s staccato performances by picking and then keeping faith with young players, but the team manager made two changes to the side that beat Italy 36-11.
World Cup winner Mike Tindall recovered from a back injury and may offer a bit more fluidity at outside centre after replacing Jamie Noon, but openside Steffon Armitage has been dropped from the squad after his debut and replaced with veteran Joe Worsley.

“Joe’s defensive work is second to none,” Johnson said. “He has been playing very well. He’s very experienced, a big tackler and a big carrier. It was a tough call but we think Joe is the right guy for what we want to do.”

Last year, Wales recovered a 19-6 deficit by scoring 20 points in 13 second-half minutes to beat England 26-19 at Twickenham. The result helped spur Wales to a Grand Slam and contributed to England’s continued spell in the doldrums.

Wales expects Shane Williams to be fit to take his place on the wing, with the wealth of the team’s attacking options illustrated by the fact that Tom Shanklin’s good performance alongside Jamie Roberts last week means that centre Gavin Henson could be left out to continue his recovery from a calf injury.

In contrast, Johnson seems to have turned to the 30-year-old Tindall as a stopgap, perhaps mindful that the more gifted Mathew Tait faltered on his 2005 debut at age 18 in Cardiff. Tait will be on the bench.

“It’s not, ‘who’s the better player?”‘ Johnson told a Rugby Football Union podcast. “It’s what you want from them, what you expect them to do and what fits what you want to do.”

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has opted to stick with the team that started last week’s 30-21 win over France.

Paddy Wallace has recovered from the bloody eye wound that forced him off the field last week.

More of the same could lead to a score similar to the 51-24 win Ireland racked up on its last trip to Rome in 2007.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has jettisoned his ill-fated experiment of playing Mauro Bergamasco at scrumhalf after the flanker struggled to find his teammates with the simplest of passes against England.

Bergamasco reverts to the openside, with Paul Griffen is expected to make his 39th international appearance in his stead at No. 9. Giulio Toniolatti, who replaced Bergamasco at Twickenham, is on the bench.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden needs the pack that struggled unexpectedly against Wales to fire against France after he picked the same forwards. But unlike Johnson, Hadden seems to be trusting in youth, with brothers Max and Thom Evans set to become the 20th set of brothers to play together for Scotland.

The 25-year-old Max will play at outside centre, with Thom on the wing. Simon Danielli takes over from Simon Webster on the other wing after Webster was knocked out against Wales.

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