Rugby World Cup: England midfield switch changes Gatland's plans

"We had been preparing for other players so we've changed our direction a bit," Gatland said. Photo / Janna Dixon

Wales head coach Warren Gatland says he was surprised at England's midfield selection changes for the crunch match at Twickenham tomorrow, and he has had to alter his plans.

"We had been preparing for other players so we've changed our direction a bit," he said.

And he admitted that England's new midfield of Owen Farrell, Sam Burgess and Brad Barritt might not pose the same attacking threat as it might had George Ford and Jonathan Joseph been present.

"What has caused us problems with England in the last couple of years has been footwork," he said. "Joseph has caused us a lot of problems at centre, and [Anthony] Watson and [Jonny] May are great finishers.

"I'm not sure Burgess and Barritt have the same footwork, they are more direct as players.

Gatland was in an unusually deferential mood as he talked guardedly about a match that was at "another level" to any other Wales v England clash in which he had been involved.

His captain, Sam Warburton, called it "the biggest game I've played in".

"I don't want to play any kind of mind games," Gatland said.

"It is just about this weekend and the respect I have for this English team. Let's hope it's a great game and afterwards, whoever wins or loses, I'd like both teams to have a beer and a chat."

Given his spate of injuries, Gatland did not have too many tough choices when selecting Alex Cuthbert has been so out of form that starting him would have been silly, so Hallam Amos wins his fifth cap on the left wing with George North on the right.

Up front, Scott Baldwin gets the nod over Ken Owens at hooker, as does Bradley Davies over Luke Charteris at lock.