England gear up for Wales Rugby World Cup clash in training as Owen Farrell celebrates his birthday after selection

  • England face Wales in their second Rugby World Cup on Saturday night
  • Owen Farrell, Sam Burgess and Brad Barritt will form a muscular midfield
  • England stars were put through their paces at Pennyhill Park on Thursday
  • Farrell is celebrating his birthday ahead of return to side at Twickenham 

England's new muscular midfield showed off their strength and power in training at Pennyhill Park on Thursday, as coach Stuart Lancaster prepares his charges for the physical threat of Wales.

The Rugby World Cup hosts are looking to make it two wins from two in Pool A on Saturday and will field Owen Farrell, Sam Burgess and Brad Barritt together in a sledgehammer approach designed to stop the heavy Welsh runners.

Thursday morning's session gave an insight into the power fans can expect at Twickenham with all three among those showing off their force at the Surrey HQ after the squad took a day off at home.

Sam Burgess (left) and Owen Farrell (centre) train after being picked to start for England against Wales

Sam Burgess (left) and Owen Farrell (centre) train after being picked to start for England against Wales

England will employ a more muscular, route one-focused, side against the Welsh at Twickenham on Saturday

England will employ a more muscular, route one-focused, side against the Welsh at Twickenham on Saturday

Farrell, celebrating his birthday during training on Thursday, shows off his skills by flicking a ball up on his heel
Fly-half Farrell will step up to face Wales on Saturday

Farrell, celebrating his birthday during training on Thursday, shows off his skills by flicking a ball up on his heel

Burgess shows his impressive power by pulling along a weight sledge at Pennyhill Park on Thursday

Burgess shows his impressive power by pulling along a weight sledge at Pennyhill Park on Thursday

George Ford has been demoted as first choice playmaker - a position held since last autumn - to make room for Farrell despite showing solid form during the warm-up matches and the 35-11 victory over Fiji.

England completed a radical overhaul of their midfield after Jonathan Joseph was ruled out against Wales with a chest injury by picking Burgess and moving Brad Barritt to outside centre.

The Farrell-Burgess-Barritt combination - the most muscular trio available to head coach Stuart Lancaster - has been chosen in anticipation of the looming gainline war at Twickenham. Farrell was celebrating his 24th birthday on Thursday, and confirmation of his return to the side would have been the perfect gift.

At Pennyhill Park, the squad pulled weight sledges among a series of drills designed to prepare for an expected war of attrition against the world's fourth best side.

England's selection has been shaped by the knowledge Wales will use a defensive system that deploys 14 players in a line with the full-back patrolling the space behind, offering little scope to circumnavigate the wall of red shirts.

George Ford is the fall guy in Stuart Lancaster's switch-around, and now finds himself as a replacement

George Ford is the fall guy in Stuart Lancaster's switch-around, and now finds himself as a replacement

Burgess jogs down the stairs at Pennyhill Park with a spring in his step ahead of the training session

Burgess jogs down the stairs at Pennyhill Park with a spring in his step ahead of the training session

Big happy birthday to this sharp customer! Only 24... I feel old now @owenfaz

A photo posted by Danny Care (@dannycare9) on

The 21-16 victory in Cardiff in February was headlined by Joseph's superb try but was ultimately founded on the front-foot momentum generated by their ball carriers. The selection of Burgess and Farrell strengthens their hand in this respect.

Once the heavyweight collisions have unfolded and the match enters the decisive final quarter, reinforcements - among them Ford - are set to be summoned from the bench in the manner that proved so successful in the bonus-point victory over Fiji.

'We have a lot of respect for the Wales coaching team and their players, they are a high-quality side and I am sure it will some occasion on Saturday evening,' Lancaster said.

'The support at Twickenham last week was incredible with the crowd really getting behind us and we will need them again this week to lift the players against a tough Wales team.'

Captain Chris Robshaw will hope to make it two wins from two games at Twickenham on Saturday evening

Captain Chris Robshaw will hope to make it two wins from two games at Twickenham on Saturday evening

 

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