England must opt for hooker Jamie George against Wales

On the face of it, England look to have got their World Cup campaign off to a tremendous start. A bonus-point victory against a dangerous Fijian side ranked ninth in the global pecking order is not to be sniffed at.

But there were times on Friday night when things threatened to go pear-shaped. Once again the set-piece creaked and the turnover statistics were the stuff of bad dreams bearing in mind the sides lying in wait in Pool A. Eleven turnovers won by the Fijians, four won by the hosts. Ouch!

I think Stuart Lancaster will resist calls for wholesale changes to his starting line-up. It's just not his style, especially after a win. But I do think he needs to tinker. Too many times during his reign the bench has had to come over the hill like the fifth cavalry, just in time to rescue an England side running short of ammunition and circling the wagons.  

I don't think it can be the case every time it's happened that guys were running out of energy and that fresh legs saved the day. Perhaps it's a question of selection.  

I would like to see Jamie George get his first start for England on Saturday. I think Tom Youngs is a great asset to the squad and a bundle of energy around the pitch. But his throwing is not of the highest quality and he's not the biggest of hookers when it comes to scrum-time.

Who remembers the first Lions Test of 2009 in Durban? The Springboks, back in the days when they never dreamt of getting out-played by sides like Japan, worked a real number on Sir Ian McGeechan's front-row. Tight-head prop Phil Vickery was beasted by "The Beast" and the Lions went one-nil down in the series.

[Youngs'] throwing is not of the highest quality and he's not the biggest of hookers when it comes to scrum-time.

Vickery famously said afterwards; "You know you've had a bad game when your mum, wife and sister text to say they still love you".

Talking to front-row experts later however, a different picture emerged. The Boks had apparently targeted hooker Lee Mears. The fact that his nickname was "Piglet" might have something to do with it. Mears was a terrific player, but he was certainly not the most robust front-rower ever, nor the biggest.

By the time we got to the third Test, Matthew Rees was wearing the No 2 shirt, and Vickery had the last laugh, turning the tables on Mr Mtawarira. But it was all too late to save the series.

I think George could sort out two problems for England. First, his throwing is accurate. With him on the park, England have had a fully functioning lineout and quality first phase possession. Secondly, he's also a formidable scrummager.  England can ill afford any more losses "against the head" and the sort of embarrassing disintegration that happened five metres from their own line shortly before Nemani Nadolo's try.

I know he hasn't started a match for England, but now is the time. And anyone who can keep the outstanding Schalk Brits out of Saracens' starting line-up week in week out must be doing something right.

The knock-on effect of selecting George would be the freedom, if you wanted, to select Joe Launchbury, with all the dynamism and added scrum-time grunt that we know he can bring.

Elsewhere I'd start Billy Vunipola at No 8 and have James Haskell on the bench in case Sam Warburton (maybe in tandem with Justin Tipuric) starts to dominate the breakdown. I'd also give Danny Care a start.

Lancaster will not make as many changes I'm sure, then again he doesn't want to contemplate the prospect of wives, mothers, sisters and girlfriends texting condolences to his players on Saturday night! This week's team selection will be fascinating.

Phil's XV for Wales: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Danny Care; 1 Joe Marler, 2 Jamie George, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 Tom Wood, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 8 Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: 16 Mako Vunipola, 17 Tom Youngs, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 James Haskell, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Owen  Farrell, 23 Henry Slade.