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Martyn Williams starts in Wales' back-row © Getty Images

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England and Wales approach their Six Nations clash at Twickenham on Saturday with optimism and fear. After the sides suffered disappointing autumn campaigns, they will sense an opportunity for a morale-boosting win against a misfiring rival. Yet trepidation is prompted by the weight of a nation's expectation, as well as injury-provoked weaknesses in both first 15s.

Martin Johnson was praised for his bold team selection after the England manager picked the mercurial but creative pair of Mathew Tait and Danny Care over more dependable options. They will be joined by Delon Armitage, who was absent in November's autumn internationals, and Toby Flood. The Leicester player will play inside-centre after the withdrawal of Riki Flutey, who was in Johnson's initial selection.

Yet for all the potential damage the backline could inflict, the problem remains that England's comparatively inferior front-row - missing Lions Phil Vickery and Andrew Sheridan - could struggle to supply them with quick ball. That complication became less of an issue after injuries to Wales forwards Matthew Rees and Gethin Jenkins, who will both miss the fixture.

Coach Warren Gatland's disappointment at learning that news was tempered by the overturn of Lee Byrne's suspension, meaning the 29-year-old will take his place at No. 15. He had been due to miss the game after coming on as a 16th man for Ospreys against Leicester Tigers in the Heineken Cup.

James Hook, who would have taken Byrne's position, wears 13 for the first time in the national team. Ominously for England, Hook was voted as man of the match on both of the previous occasions he appeared against them.

Inside of the centre, England will be relieved to see no Mike Phillips, so effective as a Lion last summer, in the No. 9 shirt as he struggles to return to action following ankle surgery. Instead, with Dwayne Peel also sidelined, Gareth Cooper starts at scrum-half.

Last year's Grand Slam winners Ireland were spared a selection dilemma for their match against Italy when fly-half Jonathan Sexton, who scored all the points against South Africa on their last outing, pulled out. He will be replaced by veteran Ronan O'Gara.

O'Gara's Lions colleague Donncha O'Callaghan was a late withdrawal from the side, with his place taken by Leo Cullen. The 32-year-old Leinster captain, who has amassed 20 caps, makes his first Six Nations appearance since 2003.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made no changes to the squad that beat Samoa in November, with Craig Gower reprising his role at fly-half. There had been doubts over the No. 10's fitness.

Mathieu Bastareaud returns to the France team for the first time since his fabrication of an assault in New Zealand caused controversy in 2009. Their opponents Scotland, resurgent following a Murrayfield defeat of Australia in November, recall record points scorer Chris Paterson to fullback for his 99th appearance.

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