Rugby World Cup 2015: Stuart Lancaster will have no case for defence if gamble backfires

Limiting the potential variables is key for any of the title-chasing teams, which is why Australia changed their eligibility rules to get Matt Giteau back into their squad and his influence in their midfield play was there for all to see against Fiji last night. Ma’a Nonu is New Zealand’s first-choice No 12, Mathieu Bastareaud does the same role for France, while Jamie Roberts is the first name coach Warren Gatland wrote down when he picked the Wales team for Twickenham.

It is the reason Brad Barritt is England’s first-choice inside-centre but on Saturday he will be operating as the defence captain from the No13 channel — a very different role to the one to which his skills set is suited. Yes, he is more limited than other No12s but Barritt is the glue that holds the backline together in defence, a key communicator in attack and the first option when it comes to straightening the line.

Now Barritt will be operating at No13, the role England earmarked for Joseph, their most inventive and elusive midfield back. Even Barritt’s most ardent supporters would not claim that he is suited to the role. The only reason he is playing there against Wales is because England have decided that they must put up a defensive wall to repel the threats of Roberts, Scott Williams and George North.

Stop the Welsh power game and you have an excellent chance of winning and England have chosen a backline they believe can achieve this important if rather limited goal.

Owen Farrell has taken over from Ford to add his considerable defensive power to the equation, while his kicking game is longer and more reliable and Saturday’s matches is all about field position and pressure.

England intend to deny Wales attacking momentum, squeeze them at scrum and lineout and kick for position as often as possible by turning North. Such a tactic will expose his lack of a kicking game, forcing him to try to run everything back. With Leigh Halfpenny injured, not only have Wales lost a world-class kicker, they have also been robbed of a player who hardly ever let an opposition tactical kick land.

Mike Brown offers a similar defensive skills set for England and will be put under intense pressure by high kicks on Saturday.

Lancaster has put his reputation on the line and the most worrying aspect is that no one — not even the England head coach — knows if it will work.