Wales and England can show just how far they have come since last year’s Rugby World Cup when they go head to head in the Six Nations on Saturday.

With injuries abating and confidence high after a win at Ireland and a fitfully impressive 27-13 victory against Scotland, Wales is in the unfamiliar position of favourite to win at Twickenham against a side that narrowly beat Scotland and Italy.

A second win at Twickenham since 1988 would keep Wales in contention for the grand slam and build on the promise of fourth place at the World Cup.

“As much as we are trying to calm ourselves down and keep a lid on it emotionally, this is a massive game and I’m sure the country is going to go a little bit mental,” prop Adam Jones said.

Wales attracted praise and plaudits for their performances at the World Cup, where they followed a single-point defeat against South Africa with wins over Samoa, Namibia, Fiji and Ireland.

But progress was stymied by an injury to playmaking flyhalf Rhys Priestland ahead of a semi-final against France, which Wales lost after a harsh red card to captain Sam Warburton.

The match against England offers Wales the ideal chance to deliver on the promise they showed in New Zealand.

Warburton returns again at openside after missing the 27-13 victory over Scotland on February 12 because of a thigh problem.

Having endured a dismal World Cup, changed coaches and overhauled their squad, England are at a different stage in their team-building exercise.

England won tricky away matches at Scotland and Italy but scored just one try in each.

Interim coach Stuart Lancaster is confident one of the most inexperienced England teams in championship history will avoid stage fright when they face Wales.

Lancaster has made four personnel changes and two positional switches for Saturday.

“It’s my first time at Twickenham (as England coach) and we’re just going to go and enjoy the occasion,” said Lancaster.

“In developing the team long term, you need to expose these players to this sort of environment.”

Ireland is unchanged to face Italy in Saturday’s other match, the first of its gruelling run of games on four straight weekends.

Five-eighth Jonathan Sexton is fit to start after recovering from a thigh injury sustained before the postponed match against France, which has been rescheduled for what should have been a tournament rest weekend.

“We were tempted to make changes to the team. We had a long discussion about it,” coach Declan Kidney said.

“But this team was good enough to play France so it’s good enough to play against Italy as well.”