Watson remains confident amidst changes

Anthony Watson has insists England's back three will have no problem working around the new-look centre partnership of Sam Burgess and Brad Barritt set to start Saturday's Pool A clash with Wales.

Incumbent outside centre Jonathan Joseph, having suffered a minor chest injury in England’s 35-11 victory over Fiji, is now confirmed to be out of contention for the Twickenham fixture with Lancaster opting to overhaul his midfield, moving Brad Barritt to the position vacated by Joseph, promoting Sam Burgess into the starting lineup at inside centre and dropping George Ford for fellow fly-half Owen Farrell.

With the moves, Lancaster and England have signalled their intent to meet Wales' power game, or ‘Gatland ball’ as it has become both affectionately and snarkingly known, head-on and Watson insists himself, fellow wing Jonny May and full-back Mike Brown view their duties essentially as business as usual.

"There's definitely no problem for us to adapt to the changes - the amount of repetitions we put into training, with different combinations, it's almost becoming instinct," Watson said.

"Playing with Sam at 13 or Brad at 13 or Henry Slade at 13, we have run all those combinations in training often enough to know each other pretty much inside out. We've got great variety in the centres."

Eight days after lining up opposite Fijian giant Nemani Nadolo, who at 6ft 5’ and a shade under 20 stone is considered one of the biggest and most powerful wings in world rugby, Watson is set to have another colossal duel, this time with Welsh winger George North.

"Nadolo was good preparation for North. They are both big players," Watson said.

"They are slightly different - I think George is probably a bit quicker than Nadolo, so he has got that threat there as well. He is a quality player.

"George North is a player I have massive respect for. He is a British and Irish Lion, he has a lot of caps already for Wales, so he is definitely a special player for them, someone we have to be on our money with defensively."

Watson also revealed he has been escaping the pressure-cooker environment of a home World Cup by spending his days off with his family at their home near the squad's Surrey training base.

"My parents only live 20 minutes from the hotel, so I'm spending most of my free time back at my parents," he said.

"My days off I spend my time there relaxing with them. That's something I really enjoy and nice to have them so close, especially at a time like this.

 "I always try to eat the right thing but I can't help myself when I go home and my mum's made some Nigerian food. I always tuck into that."