Six Nations 2015: England harder to beat - Will Carling

Alex Cuthbert (R) scored two tries against England in 2013

England legend Will Carling says Wales are "pretty intimidating", but will find it "much harder" to beat England in Cardiff on Friday than in 2013.

Wales won 30-3 to deny Grand Slam chasing England on their last Millennium Stadium visit.

Carling says the pressure is on Wales as England coach Stuart Lancaster prepared to name his team on Wednesday, 4 February.

"They know what they're going to walk out into," said Carling.

"I don't think they'll be dominated as much as they were in the scrum two years ago and that's what really broke them and led to the big points.

"I think they're going to be much harder from a Welsh point of view...if they [England] get a few breaks in the first half, who knows?

Will Carling won 72 England caps

"And there's a huge amount of pressure on the Welsh."

Wales coach Warren Gatland named his side on Monday for the 2015 Six Nations opener, two days earlier than expected.

That was viewed as a psychological ploy in some quarters as Lancaster pondered who to pick amid myriad injuries.

But Gatland's actions have not impressed ex-England centre and former captain Carling, who said: "Come the final whistle, no-one's going to care about any of this stuff."

Carling also feels New Zealander Gatland is at a degree of disadvantage because he cannot plan fully for the "unknown combinations" Lancaster has now named his team.

"It's real backs to the wall stuff because you're going down to Cardiff which is one of the hardest places to play as an Englishman," said Carling.

"You're not too popular - although that doesn't narrow it down too much around the rest of the world."

Carling says playing at the Millennium Stadium will be a " massive challenge" but one that will appeal to England players.

He also accepts Wales' familiar line-up offers a real contrast to the team England are likely to field.

"It's pretty intimidating, really, isn't it?," said Carling of a line-up that includes 11 British and Irish Lions Test caps in the starting XV.

"You look at especially the backline. It's big, it's powerful and they've played together quite a few times.

"So you think they've got partnerships that work, combinations that work and that's sadly something you can't say about whatever England team they are going to put out."