PHIL Vickery outlined the size of England’s challenge in Saturday’s RBS Six Nations opener yesterday when he described Wales’ front row as the best in world rugby.

With Vickery and Andrew Sheridan out injured, the only two capped props in England’s squad are Wasps loose-head Tim Payne, with 15 international appearances behind him, and Bath tight-head David Wilson, who has just four.

Martin Johnson will announce his squad to play Wales today and it is certain that one of Matt Mullan and Dan Cole – both highly-promising props but rookies at international level – will be included.

In contrast, Wales are set to arrive at Twickenham with a front row of Adam Jones, Matthew Rees and Gethin Jenkins, who boast a combined total of 162 caps and are the same unit which demolished South Africa’s scrum in last summer’s second Lions Test.

Vickery played with all three Welsh players scrummagers on that Lions tour and he cannot see a unit in the world game to match them.

“Gethin, Adam and Reesy are the best front row in the competition, if not the best front row in world rugby,” said Vickery. “Gethin has an engine and a heart the size of a double decker bus. Matthew’s throwing in and his scrummaging are strong and he will work all day long for you.

“Adam will just keep going. For me, it is not just about the player but about the person. I don’t really see anyone better.”