England v Wales:Slowly but surely the English puzzle is taking shape. Their friendly against Wales on Saturday may not be the biggest played between the two countries, but for Andy Farrell, the uncapped Dan Hipkiss and Simon Shaw there is much at stake.
One good performance and a place in Brian Ashton's 30-man World Cup squad will be within touching distance.
Farrell, above all, has been given a final opportunity by head coach Brian Ashton to prove his union critics wrong.
This is a team of considerable forward muscle, with three recent Test number eights starting in the backrow, but eyes will inevitably be drawn to the one-time Wigan rugby league legend in midfield.
"He looks a lot fitter than he was when he played for England in the Six Nations last season," Ashton said of Farrell, "and, consequently, he looks more the player that he was when he switched codes than he did when he started playing for Saracens last season. He deserves a shot. I am looking for a big performance.
"The players who go to the World Cup have got to be mentally tough," stressed the head coach, fully aware Farrell fits the bill in that respect. "All 40 players are still in contention."
Not everyone, notably the World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson, thinks this is good news.
"These warm-up games are vitally important," said Johnson. "England have the talent, but they don't appear to know their best side which is a little bit worrying six weeks before a World Cup."
It will be fascinating to see how Farrell dovetails with Jonny Wilkinson in midfield, given that England sank almost without trace on the pair's last collective outing against Ireland at Croke Park back in February.
"Against Ireland we weren't going forward as a team," said Farrell. "If we can get on the front foot I think things will sort themselves out naturally."
The chances of Mike Tindall making the final squad remain improbable which explains the elevation of the 25-year-old Hipkiss.
The Suffolk-reared centre was only 13 when a youth coach at Diss RFC predicted he would play for England and the aforementioned Jeremy Thurston was a shrewd judge.
Shaw, who has missed playing in three previous World Cups because of injury and selectorial judgment, is desperate to make the cut along with his old Bristol team-mate Mark Regan, suddenly back up the pecking order at hooker.
"I played in the corresponding fixture against Wales in 2003 and won the man-of-the-match award so it was a surprise to be overlooked," recalled Shaw. "I believe in my own ability. It's a question of someone else believing in it."
Gavin Henson suffered a second dose of World Cup heartbreak yesterday after being cut from the Wales squad two weeks before the final selection deadline.
Head coach Gareth Jenkins made the "tough call" after deciding Henson, whose career has been stalled by a string of injuries, had run out of time to reach peak form and fitness.
"We have given him every opportunity to make it and it's been a tough summer for Gav in which he has worked hard," said Jenkins.
"But the recent Achilles injury in particular has meant he's not been able to train at full pelt and that has reflected in his conditioning. I think we all agree he is not where he needs to be."
ENGLAND(v Wales, Twickenham, Saturday): M Cueto (Sale); D Strettle (Harlequins), D Hipkiss (Leicester), A Farrell (Saracens), J Robinson (Sale); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), S Perry (Bristol); A Sheridan (Sale), M Regan (Bristol), P Vickery (Wasps, captain), S Shaw (Wasps), S Borthwick (Bath), M Corry (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements: G Chuter (Leicester), M Stevens (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), L Dallaglio (Wasps), P Richards (London Irish), T Flood (Newcastle), M Tait (Newcastle).
WALES:L Byrne (Ospreys); A Brew (Ospreys), T Shanklin (Cardiff), G Thomas (Cardiff, capt), D James (Llanelli); C Sweeney (Dragons), G Cooper (Gloucester); I Thomas (Llanelli), H Bennett (Ospreys), C Horsman (Worcester), W James (Gloucester), R Sidoli (Cardiff), A-W Jones (Ospreys), C Charvis (Dragons), M Owen (Dragons). Replacements: G Jenkins (Cardiff), R Thomas (Dragons), TR Thomas (Dragons), A Popham (Llanelli), M Phillips (Ospreys), J Hook (Ospreys), T James (Cardiff).
