Wales v England preview: Both teams have it all to do

The Six Nations disappointment may have gone and hopes will naturally be more positive in these teams’ respective camps, but can Wales and England realistically challenge for the World Cup title in France?

Logic suggests not but we will get a bit more of an indication when the sides meet in Cardiff on Saturday.

While warm-up matches don’t always tell a whole lot heading into the global tournament, small signs are often present as to how a team will fare in the main event.

With so many changes from both teams, cohesiveness will undoubtedly be the main factor in the contest. Quite simply, who can adapt better to the mass changes both coaches have employed for this first warm-up encounter?

Wales are perhaps slightly better served in the outside backs where George North, Louis Rees-Zammit, Rio Dyer and centurion Leigh Halfpenny reside, but in the crucial areas up front and at half-back England appear to have the edge.

It is hard to look past the uncapped players, who will be doing all they can to put themselves in contention for a place in the final 33-man squads. There are three in Wales’ starting line-up as centre Max Llewellyn and props Keiron Assiratti and Corey Domachowski make their debuts for the national team.

This game takes on a similar importance for many of England’s players, which includes the impressive openside flanker Tom Pearson. The former London Irish back-row is unfortunate that he is competing in a highly congested position but, if there is someone who can usurp the likes of Jack Willis and Tom Curry in the pecking order, it is him.

An outstanding athlete, who also has plenty of skill, Pearson covers all the bases which make a fine international openside and he is very much one to watch this weekend.

There are also some English backs with points to prove in Joe Cokanasiga and Guy Porter, while look out for replacements Theo Dan and Tom Willis when they get onto the field. Both are explosive ball carriers whose skills look well suited to the highest level, so big performances on Saturday will put them in the frame for selection.