However much they attempt to brush it off, the mental jousting from across the border has put England under immense pressure as Stuart Lancaster confirms his side today.
There may not have been any surprises in the 15 names Warren Gatland prematurely announced on Monday, but then that was not the point.
In setting his stall out so early Gatland has challenged Lancaster to find an answer to the direct approach that proved so successful for Wales in Cardiff two years ago.
On that occasion the hosts humiliated Lancaster’s men to record a 30-3 win that secured the unlikeliest of Six Nations championship victories.
"For all of the Welsh midfield’s fine attributes, they are not always the best when the opposition gives them something to worry about, and here England’s injury woes may just have worked inadvertently in their favour"
England have admitted that scars remain from that defeat and Gatland clearly believes Lancaster is no nearer finding a formula that would see him leave the Millennium Stadium with two points.
The last time the Red Rose pitched up in Cardiff they did so with the aim of dominating the scrum and containing their hosts’ threat behind.
They were unable to do either, and Dan Cole’s return from injury gives Lancaster a huge boost, therefore, as he gets set to take his place in the front row alongside Dylan Hartley and Joe Marler.
The latter’s battle with Wales tight-head Samson Lee could go a long way towards deciding who comes out on top at the set piece.
But while the scrum will be a key factor in Cardiff, it will not be the be-all and end-all.
One of the main features of Wales’ crushing win two years ago was the work done by the men in red at the breakdown. It would therefore be interesting to see James Haskell given a run out at openside flanker, in direct competition with Gatland’s captain, Sam Warburton.
Haskell is in brilliant form for Wasps at the moment, and as a more natural No7 than his skipper Chris Robshaw, if he replaces the injured Tom Wood it should not be in the No6 shirt. Of course, having both Robshaw and Haskell in the back-row should allow England to compete, and with Billy Vunipola resurgent, they should also pose a threat with the ball in hand.
Behind the scrum, Lancaster must decide how to deal with the threat posed by powerhouse backs Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies and George North.
Two years ago they attempted to contain them, a ploy that ended with gaps opening up for Alex Cuthbert to score twice. By contrast at Twickenham 12 months ago, England looked to play on the front foot and a centre pairing of Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell took advantage.
For all of the Welsh midfield’s fine attributes, they are not always the best when the opposition gives them something to worry about, and here England’s injury woes may just have worked inadvertently in their favour.
Had Brad Barritt been 100 per cent fit, he would have almost certainly started, however, his absence looks to have handed Jonathan Joseph a chance alongside Burrell.
The Bath outside centre has shown his ability to create space for himself and others time and again this season, and if Burrell has a better evening against Roberts than he did for Northampton last month, England have a midfield to cause their hosts problems.
Factor in the unpredictability of Danny Cipriani, and drive of Nick Easter, off the bench and suddenly England and Lancaster have hope.
