A cauldron of pressure and intensity awaits England in their opening Six Nations clash against Wales in Cardiff on Friday - will Stuart Lancaster's bravery be rewarded or will Warren Gatland's men gain revenge for last year's Twickenham defeat?

Team news

It will be a distinctly new-look England side that takes to the Millennium Stadium field. Partly down to an extensive injury list, Stuart Lancaster's approach is a fearless one: only nine players from the impressive autumn victory against Australia remain in his starting XV.

Tight-head Dan Cole makes his first England start in over a year while Jonathan Joseph and Luther Burrell form a new-look centre partnership.

Joseph, who has shone in Bath colours this season, starts his first ever Six Nations match - along with Anthony Watson, George Ford, Dave Attwood and George Kruis. Danny Cipriani, Nick Easter and Billy Twelvetrees provide support from the bench.

In contrast, Warren Gatland has strength in depth, despite his side losing four out of their last six Tests - and two out of their last four in Cardiff. Wales have made just two changes from the XV that beat South Africa 23-6 in November: George North has been restored to the wing having missed that game with concussion and Richard Hibbard starts as hooker. Captain Sam Warburton will win his 50th cap while Leigh Halfpenny remains at full-back.

Key head-to-head

Jamie Roberts v Luther Burrell

The England centre partnership has been an issue of continual debate and Burrell's performance will no doubt have some dependence on how Joseph copes under the inevitable pressure in Cardiff.

Roberts, who has been terrific for Racing Metro this season, will not only have the advantage of a far more settled Welsh team around him but also recent bragging rights over his opposite number. His relentless performance from the midfield against Burrell's Northampton in the last round of the European Champions Cup helped his side condemn Saints to their heaviest defeat of the season - and he also touched down in the process.

Burrell played in every game of England's Six Nations campaign last year, at outside centre, and scored three tries - including one against Wales at Twickenham. Now he's back in his preferred No.12 role and will be determined to right the wrongs of that Franklin's Gardens showing.

Key stats

* England have won on just one of their last six visits to Millennium Stadium since 2003.

*This will be Wales's fourth Six Nations game to be played on a Friday evening - they lost the first two to France in 2010 and England in 2011, but defeated France 27-6 in round three last year.

*Wales have lost just one of their last nine Six Nations matches at Millennium Stadium: 22- 30 to Ireland in the opening round of 2013. England were defeated 24-26 in Paris in round one last season but have not lost successive opening encounters in the Five/Six Nations since 1987-1988.

Odds

In three out of the last five Six Nations encounters at the Millennium Stadium between the two, the margin of victory has been 6-10 points. Wales to win by the same margin this Friday returns 5/1 with Unibet.

Weather

A dry, cold but fairly windy evening expected in Cardiff which - after Lancaster and England insisted on the roof being open - will have some effect on the kicking game.

Prediction

The question remains on whether Lancaster's bravery in attack will be rewarded - and whether the five debutants will stand up to the occasion in Cardiff's pressure cauldron. Wales, though, look too strong and too settled - and will open with a 25-15 victory.

Chris Robshaw says England have learned from their disappointing defeat to Wales in Cardiff two years ago © Getty Images

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