Preview: England v Wales

However, this game is about much, much more than just individuals.

It is a fixture that will have a significant impact on not just the outcome of the pool standings, but also the entire World Cup tournament.

Gatland launched his career as Wales coach in 2008 by overseeing an impressive come from behind 26-19 win over England at Twickenham – Wales' first victory at their arch-rivals' home ground in 20 years.

Saturday's clash at Twickenham promises to top the lot, with Wales captain Sam Warburton saying: "I think it's probably the biggest game that we [England and Wales] will play, unless we meet each other again in the Final."

Warburton, who captained a British and Irish Lion team coached by Gatland on a victorious tour of Australia in 2013, added: "You know it's coming – it's a huge game.

"It is one of the biggest Wales versus England games in history," the flank insisted.

"It will probably be one of the most-watched games, including a Lions Test series.

"Unless we meet again in the final – you never know – this will be the biggest game I've played in."

And the Rugby League convert, Burgess, will be thrown in at the deep end when he starts against Wales in the first big 'Pool of Death' clash.

Critics say England coach Stuart Lancaster is rushing Burgess.

Lancaster has insisted he is not risking the World Cup hosts' chances.

A chest injury to Bath teammate Jonathan Joseph during England's tournament-opening 35-11 win over Fiji led Lancaster to rejig his backline for their second Pool A game which has earned its notoriety because of the presence of Australia.

Now, having made much of the need for experience in the side when he became England coach in 2012, Lancaster will give Burgess just his second Test start in the 15-man game, at inside centre, alongside the tough-tackling Brad Barritt.

Lancaster has also dropped George Ford, his first-choice flyhalf for the past year, and brought in Owen Farrell, who like Burgess and recalled No.8 Billy Vunipola impressed off the bench against Fiji.

To England's critics, this looks like a 'horses for courses' selection designed to counter the threat of a powerful Welsh midfield featuring British and Irish Lions centre Jamie Roberts.

Lancaster has reverted to the type expected of Red Rose coaches by opting for power over guile and not even finding space in his matchday 23 for Exeter playmaker Henry Slade, they say.

But Lancaster insisted his line-up was not a sign that England, captained by flank Chris Robshaw, would deploy a conservative gameplan against Wales, a side they beat 21-16 when the teams met in the Six Nations in Cardiff in February.

"There's got to be some subtlety in there because Wales are too good defensively to break down that way," Lancaster said after unveiling his side on Thursday.

Burgess has played just 112 minutes of international rugby union, including one start, in the 10 months since he bowed out of Rugby League. Former England captain Will Carling is among those who believe he has been rushed needlessly into the Test set-up.

But Gatland is not so sure, although he suggested England would miss Joseph, who scored a fine try when the visitors came from behind to beat Wales at the Millennium Stadium this year.

"He [Burgess] has got inexperience at Rugby [Union], but not at big occasions."

The New Zealander added: "Joseph has caused us a lot of problems at centre…I am not sure that Burgess and Barritt have the same footwork."

Injury-hit Wales, who lost ace goal-kicker Leigh Halfpenny and scrum-half Rhys Webb before the tournament started, received an official warning Thursday for training with players from outside their 31-man squad. There are concerns over the fitness of props Samson Lee and Paul James.

England and Wales enjoyed bonus-point wins over Fiji and Uruguay respectively last week but saw their set-pieces stutter ahead of their clash.

England's forward platform was key to their victory in Cardiff this year, with Gatland saying: "We got dragged into a game that we didn't want to do.

"They wanted to keep the ball in the scrums and they wanted to drive every line-out.

"We have got to be aware that that is potentially a tactic they might bring on Saturday," added Gatland, who will hope for an improved display by a Welsh pack featuring skipper Sam Warburton and lock Alun Wyn Jones.

The has been immense hype surrounding Saturday's match ever since the draw was made in 2012.

Lancaster, trying to put the fixture into context, said: "It is important to state that it is not the end of the World Cup, this game.

"There's still a lot more to be decided, but all roads do lead to Saturday."

Players to watch:

For England: The headlines screamed it all week – the spotlight will be firmly ion the Rugby League convert Sam Burgess. However, England do have some genuine Rugby Union talent – players like fullback Mike Brown, wing Jonny May, No.8 Billy Vunipola, captain Chris Robshaw, lock Courtney Lawes and hooker Tom Youngs, to name but a few.

For Wales: Injuries have inadvertently cast fullback Liam Williams and scrumhalf Gareth Davies into the spotlight. You would hope not to see George North concussed again – given his recent history of bad head-knocks. Sam Warburton will play a vital role, both as captain and at the breakdown.

Head to head: When brute force meets brute force the collisions could be both entertaining (for spectators) and painful (for the players). Sam Burgess (England) and Jamie Roberts (Wales) will be the main attraction in a long list of sideshows. The halfbacks – Owen Farrell and Ben Youngs (England) versus Dan Biggar and Gareth Davies (Wales) – and front rows – Dan Cole, Tom Youngs and Joe Marler (England) versus Tomas Francis, Scott Baldwin and Gethin Jenkins (Wales) – will be the decisive battles.

Recent results:

2015: England won 21-16, Cardiff

2014: England won 29-18, London

2013: Wales won 30-3, Cardiff

2012: Wales won 19-12, London

2011: Wales won 19-9, Cardiff

2011: England won 23-19, London

2011: England won 26-19, Cardiff

2010: England won 30-17, London

2009: Wales won 23-15, Cardiff

2008: Wales won 26-19, London

Prediction: It is Twickenham and it is a game that will require lots of Big Match Temperament. England not only have home ground advantage, they also appear to have too much depth and players with BMT. It will be close, but England should win by about 12 points.

Teams:

England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Brad Barritt, 12 Sam Burgess, 11 Jonny May, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Geoff Parling, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Joe Marler.

Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 James Haskell, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 George Ford, 23 Alex Goode

Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5  Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Gethin Jenkins

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Aaron Jarvis, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Alex Cuthbert.

Date: Saturday, September 26

Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London

Kick-off: 20.00 (19.00 GMT)

Expected weather: It will be a fine, dry day with sunny spells and light winds. High of 18°C and a low of 10°C

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Mathieu Raynal (France)

TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Agence France-Presse & @rugby365com