Other areas of concern would appear to be a lack of ball carriers in the back row - do Tom Wood and Chris Robshaw complement each other or are they too similar? - while captain Robshaw's decision-making was again called into question last weekend.

Taking a scrum rather than another tap penalty ate away precious time England did not have, and following on from questionable decisions in two games last November, doubts must remain as to his ability to make the right call under extreme pressure.

A huge roar. Fireworks. Kasabian blasting out of the PA system. Wales, led by Gethin Jenkins, have entered the arena. Almost show-time in Cardiff...

Martyn Williams
Former Wales captain on BBC One

"It will be fascinating to see how Wales approach today. Their whole philosophy is keeping the ball in the park but then you're running the risk against the Fijians - if you try to run the ball they smell blood. Wales need to be nice and compact in the opening 20 minutes then open up."

England once again field the make-shift centre partnership of Kyle Eastmond and Brad Barritt, and the latter is surely just keeping the shirt warm until Manu Tuilagi and Luther Burrell are fit again.

This is no disrespect to Barritt, who is an excellent defender, but England surely need a more dynamic attacking force at outside centre if they are to mix it with the very best.

BBC Radio 5 live

South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer on BBC Radio 5 live: "I won't take anything away from Ireland after last week's defeat and this is a great England side.

"We played some great rugby, but didn't execute.

"I truly believe the game will be won and lost in the half-backs. I don't think today will have any bearing on the World Cup, today is going to be about today."

Image source, Getty Images

All Black Wayne "Buck" Shelford entered the annals of rugby toughness when he carried on playing despite suffering an eye-wateringly painful injury while playing against France in 1986. We'll spare you the details here, but the link will tell you exactly how tough Shelford was...

This is a big match for England, and not just because games against the Boks always are.

With a home World Cup less than a year away England need to convince themselves and their followers that they will be serious contenders.

Four defeats in a row against world champions New Zealand in their last four games is no disgrace, but it's also not the form of potential World Cup winners, so victory today against South Africa - ranked second in the world - would be a real boost for Stuart Lancaster's men.

Jonathan Davies
Former Wales fly-half on BBC One

"For Wales, their execution will be crucial. It has to be good, no loose passes and when the opportunities come they have to finish them off.

"They have made a lot of changes but it is still a very good side. This is a really important game, and they must play with passion as well as executing their chances."

Ed Stevens:, external Come on England, Let's Focus! This game is going to be a war. A huge physical contest. #swinglow #England

Peter Heal:, external Fiji will not have an answer for Wales today, Wales showed enough last week to make me believe their pace will win through. Welsh win.

Image source, Reuters

South Africa make five changes to their starting line-up from the side beaten by Ireland last weekend, although coach Heyneke Meyer insists the alterations are planned rotations.

The Springboks field a new half-back partnership, with fly-half Pat Lambie and inexperienced scrum-half Cobus Reinach replacing Handre Pollard and Francois Houggard.

Wing JP Pietersen (pictured) and flanker Schalk Burger come in for Cornal Hendricks and Teboho Mohoje respectively, while the other change sees the mobile Adriaan Strauss chosen ahead of the more physical Bismark du Plessis at hooker.

Image source, Getty Images

Plenty of familiar faces in the Fiji side, not least Ospreys fly-half Josh Matavesi.

Cornwall-born Matavesi makes his first start for the islanders since 2010 after overcoming a shoulder injury. He is one of five changes - all in the back division - from the side beaten 40-15 by France.

Leicester centre Vereniki Goneva makes his first Test start for two years after missing last weekend's match against France because of visa problems.

Head coach Warren Gatland decides to make eight changes to the side which was edged out by Australia. But any Fijians thinking it is a 'weak' side might want to think again - there are still eight British and Irish Lions packed into the XV.

Gethin Jenkins captains the side from loose-head prop, with Justin Tipuric replacing the rested Sam Warburton at No.8.

Mike Phillips and Rhys Priestland are the half-backs, while Scott Williams recovers from a hamstring strain to partner Jamie Roberts at centre.

Wales: L Williams, A Cuthbert, S Williams, J Roberts, G North, R Priestland, M Phillips; G Jenkins (captain), S Baldwin, S Lee, B Davies, L Charteris, D Lydiate, J Tipuric, T Faletau.

Replacements: E Phillips, N Smith, R Jones, A W Jones, J King, R Williams, J Hook, C Allen.

Fiji: M Talebula, W Nayacalevu, V Goneva, N Nadolo, A Tikoirotuma, J Matavesi, N Matawalu; C Ma'afu, S Koto, 3 Saulo, M Nakarawa, A Ratuniyarawa, D Waqaniburotu, M Matadigo, A Qera (captain),

Replacements: T Talemaitoga, J Yanuyanutawa, I Colati, T Cavubati, M Ravulo, H Seniloli, J Ralulu, T Nagusa.

Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)

Lewis Moody
Former England captain on BBC Radio 5 live

"You know if you win against South Africa, you know you've thoroughly deserved it. As a forward, there will be nothing left in the tank by the final whistle.

"It's set to be a brutal contest and a wounded South Africa side after last week's defeat by Ireland will be some force to take on.

"They will bludgeon you into submission unless you give it back to them. I'm gutted not to be out there myself this afternoon."

Just the one change for England after last weekend's 24-21 defeat by the All Blacks, and that is injury-enforced.

Bath flyer Anthony Watson, still only 20, makes the first of what will surely be many Test starts in place of the unlucky Semesa Rokoduguni, who came off injured after an hour of his debut last weekend.

Gareth Roberts
BBC Sport Wales at the Millennium Stadium

"It's a family-friendly day at Millennium Stadium with ticket prices aimed at that section of the Welsh fan base. It can mean only one thing - the vuvuzela chorus is getting louder and louder as kick-off approaches."

England: M Brown (Harlequins); A Watson (Bath), B Barritt (Saracens), K Eastmond (Bath), J May (Gloucester); O Farrell (Saracens), D Care (Harlequins); J Marler (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Bath), D Attwood (Bath), C Lawes (Northampton), T Wood (Northampton), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements: R Webber (Bath), M Mullan (Wasps), K Brookes (Newcastle), G Kruis (Saracens), B Morgan (Gloucester), B Youngs (Leicester), G Ford (Bath), M Yarde (Harlequins).

South Africa: W le Roux; J P Pietersen, J Serfontein, J de Villiers (capt), B Habana; P Lambie, C Reinach; T Mtawarira, A Strauss, J du Plessis, E Etzebeth, V Matfield, M Coetzee, S Burger, D Vermeulen.

Replacements: B du Plessis, T Nyakane, C Oosthuizen, B Botha, T Mohoje, F Hougaard, H Pollard, C Hendricks.

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia).

Assistant referees: Jerome Garces (France) and Nick Briant (New Zealand).

As well as our wise words, there are other ways to keep up to speed with the action from Cardiff this afternoon.

BBC One's coverage has just started, where Gabby Logan will be joined by former Wales fly-half Jonathan Davies, former England and Lions centre Jeremy Guscott and Nicky Little, whose 71 caps for Fiji included their memorable 38-34 win over Wales at the 2007 World Cup.

Alternatively, you can watch online or listen to BBC Radio Wales' coverage by choosing one of the tabs at the top of this page.

Image source, @EnglandRugby

A special afternoon ahead for England scrum-half Danny Care as this tweet, external explains: @dannycare, external's shirt hangs in the dressing room. He's only the 3rd ENG No.9 to reach 50 caps today #honour #ENGvSA

Image source, Ryan Jones Twitter

Wales and Bristol back rower Ryan Jones is in a confident mood:, external "Never fails to fill me with a childlike excitement! #walesby15"