And they might never have a better chance of ending that prolonged losing sequence, despite England's status as 2007 World Cup finalists.

Wales, glowing from a feel-good factor generated by new coach Warren Gatland's arrival, last won at Twickenham in 1988 when Jonathan Davies and Mark Ring inspired an 11-3 success that featured two tries for wing Adrian Hadley.

It has been a tale of woe since then, with Wales conceding a total of 390 points from 10 subsequent visits, culminating in last summer's humiliating 62-5 World Cup warm-up defeat.

But Gatland's side, which contains a record 13 players from Heineken Cup quarter-finalists the Ospreys, quietly believe they can stop England in their tracks.

England, who last won the Six Nations title in 2003, face an opening game where the pressure is on them following their World Cup exploits in France last autumn.

Head coach Brian Ashton has lost the services of retired quartet Lawrence Dallaglio, Martin Corry, Mike Catt and Jason Robinson, while injuries have hit back-row resources, with Nick Easter, Joe Worsley and Tom Croft all sidelined.

Gloucester number eight Luke Narraway makes his Test debut, while both centre Mike Tindall and wing David Strettle return after missing the World Cup through injury.

And fly-half Jonny Wilkinson needs just 18 points to reach 1,000 for England, but Wales, with their powerful Ospreys connection and the Gatland factor in tandem, promise to make it a testing afternoon for Wilkinson and company.