Back convinced opening win over Wales is crucial to give Johnson's men momentum

Defending grand slam champions Ireland are favourites to win the competition but, despite the backward step England took during the autumn internationals, expectations for Martin Johnson's side are, as ever, enormous.

Back was in the England side Johnson led to their greatest achievement in the World Cup final in Sydney more than six years ago and competed in half a dozen Five/Six Nations Championships.

Now head coach of Leeds Carnegie, Back believes a winning performance this afternoon will give England the perfect base to build on and improve on their second-place finish in 2009.

"The fact that they've got Wales in the opening game is a real challenge, but if they can get a win at any cost today then the next game is Italy on the road, and that's winnable," said Back, who helped England to 23 wins in 29 Five/Six Nations matches.

"If you win two games on the bounce then you create momentum and that breeds confidence going into the second home game against Ireland. But it's all about getting over that first hurdle.

"I've been privileged to play in a few Six Nations competitions; you're away from each other on club duty and then all of a sudden you have just the one week together. It's not perfect but the Six Nations is about hitting the ground running.

"If you can get off to that first win then it will create some momentum."

England's only other home game in this year's Six Nations is against Declan Kidney's Ireland who finished 2009 unbeaten.

Johnson's side close the tournament at the Stade de France in Paris after a tricky trip to face resurgent Scotland at a baying Murrayfield on March 13.

But Back is of the old-school opinion that a pitch is a pitch no matter what the surroundings are.

And with the attacking team Johnson has chosen for the opening game, the 40-year-old believes England have the weaponry to live up to expectations.

"The squad Johno announced initially included some players that will give England more strength and a platform to play off but unfortunately a few of those players aren't available and that will be a real issue for Johno," said Back.

"Weve got some great guys back in form and with Delon Armitage back at No 15, that will give England some real attacking threat from the back three.

"On paper England will enter that with a lot of confidence, but it's still about giving these players time together.

"When England were strong, most people would write 13 names down and argue about two. But now people write two or three down and argue about the rest so there's no consistency in the selection. That's not down to the management, that's down to the availability of players.

"What they need to build is a core group that play regularly together and then add talent to that and that's what the first game against Wales is about.

"If they click and show the form that they have been in the Premiership then they will be a tough side to beat."

Centre Riki Flutey has been ruled out after suffering a thigh injury in training. He is replaced in the starting XV by Toby Flood with former rugby league star Shontayne Hape added to the replacements.

The next few weeks could be pivotal in shaping England's future, with all eyes on Johnson and whether he can shape England's play from the bench.

On the pitch he was an inspirational leader in a team of experienced professionals, but the former Leicester Tiger has often shown his frustration as he watches the men in white toil in front of him.

In two sobering autumn campaigns England have made little impression against the southern hemisphere heavyweights, and Back is calling for a dose of pragmatism from those writing off the team manager and his squad.

Back said: "The press have got to write what they feel they should be writing. When England play in England, everyone's going to want them to win and the expectation will be on them to win.

"You've got to appreciate where you are. There's been no consistency in selection, but if they can get all England's best players out on the field consistently then they will build something that will be very tough to beat."

Flutey, a Test Lion last summer, missed the autumn Test series with shoulder surgery and his return was seen as key to unleashing England's newly-crafted attacking gameplan.

Flood's inclusion changes the dynamics of England's midfield and his defence will be tested against Wales's powerful centre Jamie Roberts.

Johnson said: "It is a blow because we picked Riki to play but the good thing for us is that Toby can play Test rugby in two positions.

"He has played a lot of Test rugby at 12. He played in a World Cup final. He is an experienced Test player now.

"He has a good kicking game, he is very strong defensively, he can carry the ball well and can off-load. He has a good all-round game to play at 10 and 12 at this level.

"Of course you don't want to lose a guy on a Thursday when you have picked him, but it happens in rugby and we don't miss a beat."

Despite Flutey's absence, England have been less afflicted with injuries this week than at any point in Johnson's 18-month tenure – and certainly less than Wales.

The Welsh had wanted to arrive at Twickenham with an all-Lions Test front row, but this week they have lost the hooker Matthew Rees and loose-head Gethin Jenkins.

Wales still boast the tighthead Adam Jones, nicknamed 'The Bomb', who will test Tim Payne's current wobbly form to the limit.

"We are still going to have to scrummage whether Gethin Jenkins is playing or not," said Johnson.

"It is about the guys who are playing, not about the guys who aren't playing. It always is."

Twickenham line-upS

England: D Armitage (London Irish); Cueto (Sale), Tait (Sale), Flood (Leicester), Monye (Harlequins); J Wilkinson (Toulon), Care (Harlequins); Payne (Wasps), Hartley (Northampton), Wilson (Bath), Shaw (Wasps), Borthwick (Saracens, capt), Haskell (Stade Francais), Moody (Leicester), Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: Thompson (Brive), Cole (Leicester), Deacon (Leicester), Armitage (London Irish), Hodgson (London Irish), Hape (Bath), Foden (Northampton).

Wales: Byrne (Ospreys); T James (Cardiff), Hook (Ospreys), Roberts (Cardiff), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), Cooper (Cardiff); P James (Ospreys), G Williams (Cardiff), A Jones (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), Charteris (Newport), Powell (Cardiff), M Williams (Cardiff), R Jones (Ospreys, capt).

Replacements: Bennett (Ospreys), Gill (Saracens), B Davies (Cardiff), Thomas (Ospreys), Rees (Cardiff), Bishop (Ospreys), Halfpenny (Cardiff).

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).