WALES have got to hit the ground running when they take on England at a sold-out Twickenham on Saturday in the first of three World Cup warm-up matches, insists kicking coach Neil Jenkins.

Wales will go in against a background of heavy defeats in corresponding matches before the last two World Cups while England are Six Nations champions whereas Wales have ended fourth three years in a row.

"The boys have worked extremely hard but there is only so much you can do on the training ground. There is nothing like playing in matches and we've got to hit the ground running," said Jenkins.

"They are huge games coming up now and it's vital we do well in them. Twickenham in August being a sell-out says it all, rugby is on a high and they are going to the World Cup as Six Nations champions and one of the favourites.

"It's England against Wales on Saturday and it'll be massive. It is the ultimate game for any Welsh player to play in, and it's important that we are ready to go.

"We all realise what a good side they are, and they let four players go from their squad this week so the reality is they are a pretty strong side.

"They will be disappointed last time out that they lost to Ireland, but they had a pretty good championship. They beat us in Cardiff and they battled out a victory against France.

"They have got a lot of talented players and letting those players go shows how good they are.

"But we are going up there with a good squad ourselves with a lot of competition for places. We'd have liked to have done more rugby, we've done a lot of conditioning and weights so we're not far away.

"We've got two more warm-up games after this one and we've got to build up to them compared with 2003 when we were comfortably undercooked."

Jenkins believes former Wales coach Graham Henry, now in charge of New Zealand, is playing typical mind games when he says the World Cup will be one of the most expansive. "It's all about winning," he said. "There are times when you can play open, attacking rugby but there will be a lot of kicking as well.

"It'll come down to who doesn't make the most errors. There will be a lot of territory played but I don't think it will be open, attractive rugby. We'll see how it goes."

* Jenkins says Wales captain Matthew Rees is expected to be fit for the World Cup after a neck injury put paid to his chances of playing at Twickenham.

"He's had an injection, now we need to get him on the pitch and take part in some games, but I'm sure he'll be fine for the World Cup," he said.