“It is always a huge game whenever Wales plays England and it is the kind of challenge that always brings out the best in us. But the fact we will be launching the defence of our Six Nations title the day before Gareth Thomas and his team do the same at Twickenham adds an extra bit of spice to the game at Worcester,” admitted Smith.
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“In the past, we’ve always been told that it makes a difference if the U21 team can get a winning start to a Six Nations weekend. I’m not sure if it makes any difference to the senior Welsh side the next day, but I suppose it would be nice to watch and read about a Welsh win over England.
“We played some of our best rugby against England in our opening game last season and it was that game that gave us the belief we needed to go on and do the Grand Slam. It is going to be another big challenge at Worcester, but it is one that is exciting us all.”
While a try double from Blues wing Chris Czekaj paved the way for a 32-21 win over the auld enemy last season, the English side rallied at the IRB U21 World Cup in Argentina last summer to notch a 57-32 victory that included eight tries. The last time Wales met England at Worcester at this level, when Lee Jarvis led the Welsh team in 1998, the home team triumphed 46-7, although the margin of England’s victories on the last two games they have hosted have been three points or less.
“We have 10 players rolling over from last season and I am really excited at the talent in our squad. There is a greater level of experience than in previous seasons, with a number of players having played at Celtic League and Heineken Cup level for their regions, and the players that are coming through the academy systems are much better prepared both physically and tactically for the modern game,” said Wales U21 coach Chris Davey.
“We know the England team will be very big and physical and we know they will be looking for revenge for their defeat in Newport last season. That’s why everyone is so excited by the prospect of kicking-off against them.”
So competitive is the selection process this season that Bath centre Tom Cheeseman, a regular at Heineken Cup and Guinness Premiership level for the west countrymen, can’t even make the 22. Pontypridd and Cardiff Blues centre Dafydd Hewitt, who made his Celtic League debt last weekend, has been partnered with the Ospreys rising midfield star Andrew Bishop at centre.
Davey has included five new caps in his side, three behind the scrum. With Aled Brew ruled out for the opening two fixtures, Llanelli flier Darren Daniel gets his chance to shine on the right wing, while the Neath points machine James Hook and Scarlets scrum half Liam Davies team up at half-back.
Up front, Worcester flanker Craig Everett joins skipper Smith and Rhys Shellard in the back row and Cardiff loose head Rhys Gill packs down in the front row.
Leicester Tigers centre Matt Cornwell will lead the England side and he is one of six players who appeared at this level last season. Cornwell weas captain of the England team at last summer’s IRB U21 World Championship.
Among the new caps are Bath hooker Chris Brooker, Leeds Tykes No.8 Jordan Crane and Gloucester backs Ryan Lamb and Anthony Allen, all of who were in England’s Grand Slam team at Under 19 level last year.
England U21: O Morgan (Gloucester); J Hoyle (Newcastle Falcons), M Cornwell ( Leicester Tigers, captain), A Allen (Gloucester), M Brown (NEC Harlequins); R Lamb ( Gloucester), B Foden (Sale Sharks); D Hartley (Northampton Saints), C Brooker (Bath),   D Wilson (Newcastle Falcons), R Blaze (Worcester Warriors), T Croft (Leicester Tigers), Chris Robshaw (NEC Harlequins), M Hills (Sale Sharks), Jordan Crane (Leeds Tykes)
Replacements: N Briggs (Sale Sharks), M Lambert (NEC Harlequins), T Ryder (Saracens), J Haskell (London Wasps), N Runciman (Worcester), S Geraghty (London Irish), T Ojo (London Irish)
Wales U21: J Roberts (Cardiff); D Daniel (Llanelli), A Bishop (Ospreys), D Hewitt (Cardiff), C Czekaj (Blues); J Hook (Neath), L Davies (Scarlets); R Gill (Cardiff), D Goodfield (Blues), P Osborne (Newport), A Wynne-Jones (Swansea), D Day (Carmarthen Quins), C Everett (Worcester), R Shellard (Pontypridd), T Smith (Neath, captain)
Replacements: E Shervington (Neath), C Mitchell (Neath), I Jones (Llanelli), W Jones (Newport), B Lewis (Newport), M Roberts (Neath)
