After a turgid 17-12 defeat of the Azzurri, England were roundly criticised with fly-half Jonny Wilkinson blamed by many for the lack of bite in attack.

Sale stand-off Charlie Hodgson was called into the squad because Wilkinson was suffering from muscle tightness but England’s record points scorer has been given the green light to start against Ireland.

There was also a suggestion that Worcester prop Matt Mullan would come in for Tim Payne in the loosehead berth but the Wasps man keeps his place with Mullan dropping out of the matchday squad.

Also among the replacements is Northampton flier Ben Foden who has been in sparkling form for the Saints while Wasps flanker Joe Worsley and Bath hooker Lee Mears take over from Steffon Armitage and Steve Thompson respectively.

England: D Armitage (London Irish); Mark Cueto (Sale), Mathew Tait (Sale), Riki Flutey (Brive), Ugo Monye (Harlequins); Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon), Danny Care (Harlequins); Tim Payne (Wasps), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Dan Cole (Leicester), Simon Shaw (Wasps), Steve Borthwick (Saracens, captain), James Haskell (Stade Francais), Lewis Moody (Leicester), Nick Easter (Harlequins)

Replacements: Lee Mears (Bath), David Wilson (Bath), Louis Deacon (Leicester), Joe Worsley (Wasps), Paul Hodgson (London Irish), Toby Flood (Leicester), Ben Foden (Northampton)