Rugby World Cup: Lancaster defends selections for Wales clash

England coach Stuart Lancaster. Photo / AP

Stuart Lancaster has staunchly swatted away barbs about his selections for Sunday morning's (NZT) crucial Rugby World Cup pool A match against Wales at Twickenham.

Owen Farrell will start at first five in place of George Ford, a change away from Ford's stranglehold on the number 10 jersey since the end of last year's internationals and a pulling back from the latter's more attacking mind-set.

The other significant change sees former Rabbitohs NRL forward Sam Burgess named to start his first test at second five alongside centre Brad Barritt who pushes out one spot from the opener against Fiji.

The selections of Farrell and Burgess have been met with indignation with Ford's father Mike - who is the coach of Bath and was part of the 2011 World Cup coaching staff - calling the axing of his son "mystifying" in the Daily Telegraph.

Burgess hasn't escaped the firing line, with ex-captain Will Carling labelling the selection as "astonishing", while former Scotland fullback Gavin Hastings has suggested Wales coach Warren Gatland will be laughing all the way to Twickenham after Henry Slade was overlooked.

Lancaster believes switching out for Ford for Farrell is no gamble, despite the latter only starting one test this year after missing the Six Nations with a knee ligament injury.

"If I was replacing George Ford with someone that didn't have any international experience or hadn't played any competitive rugby for England, then obviously, clearly you'd say yes, but I don't think putting an inform and confident Owen Farrell into the team...to maybe use George in a different role of the bench is a risk, no"

Lancaster says Burgess can defend well and is adamant he can deal with the big match experience against their close rivals.

"Day by day, week by week he's begun to prove people wrong and all we can do is judge what we see in front of us and select on the back of it".

The other change to the run-on side sees Billy Vunipola into the side at number eight for the crocked Ben Morgan.

Both sides hold their captain's runs on Friday night (NZT).