Wales v England: England looking to stamp their control on Wales

But Johnson warned that pre-tournament favourites England are better equipped to live up to that hype in the intense cauldron of the Millennium Stadium tonight.

Gatland lit the fuse last week when he launched a tirade at England hooker Dylan Hartley, with Johnson responding by suggesting they were the actions of a man under pressure.

With Wales starting the Six Nations without a win in their last seven Tests, Johnson has urged his side to play on their inevitable self-doubt.

"If you haven't won for a long time, you get that feeling of 'where is the next one going to come from?' We can control that in the game," said Johnson, whose side will be led out by Mike Tindall, the Otley-born centre who, for the first time in his 67-cap career, will captain the national team.

"We must give them no easy outs, no easy scores.

"If we get into the last quarter with them behind, that is where we want to be.

"That is the mental side of the game that is very important.

"I told our squad last week in Portugal that a lot would be said because it's England-Wales and there's a lot of media space to fill over 12 days.

"Wales have filled most of it. I don't mind. I like a spicy build-up to a game, it gets the blood flowing.

"Then we go and play. A rugby game is about who is playing not about who said what. Our guys are desperate to go and play a game."

England have not won in Cardiff since 2003, when Johnson was captain, but they head into both tonight's game and the Six

Nations as favourites.

Johnson oversaw an encouraging autumn campaign, which included a record 35-18 home victory over Australia that lifted England up to fourth in the world rankings.

South Africa dished out a brutal lesson in physicality a fortnight later – but Johnson believes that will stand his young side in good stead for the trip to Cardiff,

traditionally the most hostile Six Nations venue for England.

Johnson said: "There's certainly a different mood in the camp and I think that comes from winning some big games.

"There's a belief there that we can go and play against anyone and be successful.

"There's a certain confidence in the team that you get if you win some big games, or if you lose some as well but go through experiences.

"This is a big game. It's what you grow up watching as a rugby fan – I certainly did.

"We've got to set our standards very, very high so if we don't quite reach them we're still pretty good.

"The All Blacks win because their worst performance is still pretty good."

The control Johnson demands includes discipline and an ability or England to remain focused, despite the pre-match provocation and anything that may be thrown at them after kick-off.

Johnson is confident Hartley – who has kept Leeds Carnegie hooker Steve Thompson on the bench – can do that despite Gatland's attempts to provoke a reaction from him.

Johnson added: "You have to keep your discipline and accuracy, that's without a doubt. We have spoken about that. We had our problems a couple of years ago and I think we addressed them pretty well.

"Dylan plays very aggressively and passionately and that's what we want from him. He's obviously got to be smart, stay under control, not get embroiled in anything.

"I think it will be fast and physical and we've got to harness all that emotion and the whole thing into a performance.

"I said to the players, 'It all comes back to the same thing, controlling what we can control; control the ball, tempo and playing with accuracy'."

Johnson has had to make three changes to his pack from that South Africa game, with key lineout forwards Courtney Lawes, Tom Croft and captain Lewis Moody all injured.

Hendre Fourie is also absent with the calf injury he sustained in Leeds's European Challenge Cup tie with Bucharest Oaks and has returned to the Yorkshire club to continue his recovery.

Northampton flanker Tom Wood will make his debut while James Haskell and Louis Deacon both return to the team.

Tonight's game marks the penultimate Six Nations home game for prolific Welsh winger Shane Williams, who is to retire after the World Cup.

"For me to know this is my last Six Nations is tough to take," said Williams, Wales' record try scorer with 51 Test touchdowns and a former IRB international player of the year.

"I don't want to finish playing rugby, I don't want to finish playing for Wales, but I have got to be realistic.

"It probably means a little bit more to me knowing there are only two home games for Wales in this Six Nations as well. I put myself under a lot of pressure every time I play, but perhaps a little bit more this time."