Care suffered strained ligaments after turning his ankle during training on Tuesday and was finally ruled out this morning.

Ellis, who was initially promoted from the Saxons squad as injury cover, will now go straight into England’s starting team, with Northampton’s Ben Foden remaining on the bench.

London Irish scrum-half Paul Hodgson will take Ellis’s place in the Saxons team to play Ireland A at Donnybrook tomorrow night.

England manager Martin Johnson said: “On behalf of the squad we all feel for Danny and wish him a speedy recovery. Harry is an experienced international and I’m sure he will do a good job for us on Saturday.”

Ellis last started for England in the 2007 RBS 6 Nations before suffering a ruptured knee ligament playing for Leicester that ruled him out of the World Cup.

He also sat out last year’s Six Nations and England’s summer tour to New Zealand before returning on the bench for the autumn Test series.

Care, the livewire Quins scrum-half, had established himself as England’s first choice in New Zealand and had started the last five Tests.

Ellis’s inclusion means England have made six changes to the starting XV from their 32-6 defeat to the All Blacks in November.

Andy Goode has come in at fly-half with Mike Tindall restored at outside centre and winger Mark Cueto back in the side for the first time since the World Cup final.

London Irish flanker Steffon Armitage will make his debut while Andrew Sheridan returns at loose-head prop.