While I might not rush to join the chorus of people questioning England's selection for this weekend's crucial pool game against Wales, I do have to question how they are looking to play as a side.

Against the Fijians on the opening night, the hosts didn't look particularly threatening until coach Stuart Lancaster made changes in the second half, bringing on some impactful substitutes. The likes of Sam Burgess, Richard Wigglesworth and the Vunipola brothers made a noticeable difference, especially Wigglesworth.

The Saracens scrum-half drove the pace of the game to a different level. It was that pace which broke Fiji down. Until that point the Pacific Islanders didn't seem too flustered by the English attack which led to frustration in the stadium and no doubt in millions of living rooms across the country. Wigglesworth can feel disappointed not to have been picked to start against Wales.

During the build up to the World Cup, England have largely played a game which is designed to stop them losing. The main goal: to stop the opposition. An exception to that rule would be the first warm-upgame against France at Twickenham where England played with pace and some real creativity. It was the game that stamped Henry Slade's ticket for this World Cup.

The second warm-up game, away to the French, was an example of what I am trying to explain. In Paris, Luther Burrell and Jonathan Joseph struggled to break down the defence in front of them. It continued throughout the game until Danny Cipriani came on. He worked brilliantly with George Ford and nearly masterminded a comeback for the win.

Having a ball-playing decision-maker further out in the back line working as the 'eyes' for team attack is crucial. Teams pride themselves on their defensive capabilities and running hard into a brick wall will seldom break it down. It rarely works anymore.

I would love to see England create space for their danger runners by upping the pace of the game. Make the opposition worry about us, not vice versa. Slade did brilliantly against France and worked tirelessly as Ford's partner. With another genuine kicking option England found it much easier to play the game in the right areas of the field for their game plan.

When there isn't a centre in the side who is able to work in tandem with the fly half, Mike Brown needs to take on more of a role. He's one player that can fill that second receiver role if needs be, as he did at times during the Irish warm-up fixture to good effect. On one occasion it led directly to a score for Jonny May. When Burgess and Brad Barritt carry the ball on Saturday evening, England will then need players to put other runners like May and Anthony Watson into space. Farrell will need someone to help him out as much as Ford would have and we can't expect his selection to solve the underlying problems in England's attack.

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I understand wanting to have enough strength to match Scott Williams and Jamie Roberts but I'm convinced Ford is capable of holding his own in game of this magnitude. Standing by him in selection would mean it wouldn't be necessary to completely rejig the midfield. Bring in Burgess to replace the injured Joseph as needed, sure, but I would have stuck with Ford. It seems he recognises opportunity more than Owen Farrell, chosen ahead of him, and he will be more used to a game like that than Farrell has been playing at Saracens.

Slade's lack of international experience seems to count against him but really it is similar to that of Burgess. However, the league convert has played in some monstrous games during his career in both codes and I think this is what makes him an 'experienced' leader in Lancaster's mind. I would love to see Ford, Slade and Joseph-Burgess line up together in this World Cup even if it is against Uruguay as I think we might see something quite liberating from an axis like that.

No matter the choices England's management have made, they need to raise and drive the pace of the game against the Welsh. The set-piece hasn't functioned as we might have expected coming into this World Cup and it is not something that is providing stability within the side at the moment and surely this is an area Wales coach Warren Gatland will have had a detailed look at.

Raise the pace of the game, use Burgess in wider spaces against defenders who have had to move around and we might see an interesting performance from England. Fingers crossed, it's a monumental night we have ahead of us.