I WAS at Twickenham for the England versus Wales pre-World Cup warm-up match and I was a little surprised by the outcome.

At one point it was looking like a 30-35 point demolition job by England but it didn’t work out that way and there was a little lack of intensity you’d expect from this sort of pre-season.

Years ago, there used to be a sort of understanding that one team played their first team against the other side’s second string and vice versa, so with the return coming up in Cardiff this weekend, it will be interesting to see what teams are put out.

Probably only about three or four of last week’s England team would be first-team starters, while Wales had a strong line-up out with a few players missing.

There are things to be learned from matches like this and it’s a chance for a few people to put their hands up for future selection.

One who definitely did that on Saturday was prop Matt Stevens.

The former Bath and now-Saracens player had a superb game and he would struggle not to make the first-choice side.

With Andrew Sheridan coming back to fitness too, England have the makings of a good front row there.

For me, the real problems for Martin Johnson’s side are in the back row and the centres.

In each case, it’s a question of a lack of balance.

There is a worry over the fitness of Lewis Moody but he is probably the nearest England have got to an openside flanker available.

You need someone in there with soft hands and a bit of guile and that is what is lacking.

There is a real problem there and it’s a similar story in the centre.

Manu Tuilagi scored a try that only really he, in terms of English rugby, can score but he’s a 13 rather than a 12, which is what England have been missing.

There are areas of real strength but still questions over these other areas and the problem is that these Test matches are not a long enough time to iron these things out.

You feel as if the World Cup is coming around 18 months or so too early for this England side.

Let Steve know your rugby thoughts. Send your emails to ohoulihan@newswilts.co.uk