JUDGING by the talk of the week we might as well fast forward to around 6.10pm and the final quarter.

Rob Howley has his Welsh "game-changers" while England boss Eddie Jones has been hailing his "finishers".

In Test rugby it's no longer just the XV that you glance towards, it's what is to come on the bench and both sides flexed their muscles in Rome and London on opening weekend to get their Six Nations campaigns off to winning starts.

That neither today's hosts nor visitors head to the Principality Stadium (kick-off 4.50pm) totally satisfied with their round one shows that they are real title contenders.

Wales would mark themselves the happier after coming on strong at the Stadio Olimpico to take the spoils; it was a banana skin expertly avoided.

While they undoubtedly spluttered a little in the first half – and Sam Warburton's turnover on the stroke of the whistle to keep the deficit at 7-3 was vital – it was a professional job in challenging conditions.

Bonus points may come into play on final weekend but when the rain was lashing down it was all about getting the four.

England certainly weren't thinking about extras after being tested by an impressive France – will Guy Noves' men back it up against Scotland tomorrow? – but their heavy hitters secured the spoils in the final quarter at Twickenham.

'Warrenball' has become a dirty word in recent seasons but rugby essentially remains a simple sport with the side that wins the collisions coming out on top.

Jones' English revivals has taken place thanks to the athleticism of Maro Itoje, guile of half-backs Ben Youngs and George Ford, the extra distribution of Owen Farrell in midfield and lively outside runners.

However, it's down to their big boys laying the foundations and it's here that Wales have a chance of ending their guests' 15-Test winning streak.

England will miss the carrying, and deft hands, of the Vunipolas, the honest toil of flanker Chris Robshaw and set piece prowess of lock George Kruis.

But they still boast some big units and it is telling that their Aussie boss has plumped for a less experienced but heavier Jack Clifford in the back row.

He will be up against Justin Tipuric but it's former captain Warburton that holds the key this evening.

Wales' best flanker was immense in Rome and his displays at blindside in the Six Nations should go a long way towards earning the Lions' 7 jersey.

Warburton is cunning and has the physicality to back up his excellent decision-making.

The ex-skipper and current leader Alun Wyn Jones will be to the fore as Wales attempt to prevent the English juggernaut from giving an armchair ride and quick ball to their 9-10-12, something Howley's side failed to do against Australia in November.

But the bruisers will keep on coming with James Haskell and Ben Te'o who England will hope can cause the sort of problems that Sam Davies didn't experience in Rome after impressing off the bench for the injured Dan Biggar.

Haskell is a huge figure for England but Taulupe Faletau is even bigger for Wales and will wear 8 on his back in round three against Scotland.

For now he will don the 20 jersey and Howley will be hoping for a performance as classy as his second-half showing against South Africa last autumn when it was hard to believe he had only just come back from injury.

Having Faletau on at the death could be vital because everything points to a nip and tuck encounter – six of the last 10 competition clashes have been settled by a score – and both teams boast superb kicking options.

England's perfect 2016 means they start as slight favourites but this is a golden opportunity for Wales to remind the folk that dismissed their title credentials that they are a force to be reckoned with.

Wales: L Halfpenny, G North, J Davies, S Williams, L Williams, D Biggar, R Webb, R Evans, K Owens, T Francis, J Ball, A W Jones (captain), S Warburton, J Tipuric, R Moriarty, S Baldwin, N Smith, S Lee, C Hill, T Faletau, G Davies, S Davies, J Roberts.

England: M Brown, J Nowell, J Jospeh, O Farrell, E Daly, G Ford, B Youngs, J Marler, D Hartley (captain), D Cole, J Launchbury, C Lawes, M Itoje, J Clifford, N Hughes. Replacements: J George, M Mullan, K Sinckler, T Wood, J Haskell, D Care, B Te'o, J May.

Referee: Jerome Garces