Tom Wood will win his first England cap in the RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night (7.45pm).

The Northampton Saints flanker takes over from Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers) and is one of three changes to the side beaten 21-11 by South Africa on November 27.

Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers) and James Haskell (Stade Francais) win their 19th and 30th caps respectively in place of Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) and Lewis Moody (Bath Rugby).

The side will be captained by 2003 World Cup winner Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby), who leads the side out for the first time.

Returning on the bench are Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon) and Joe Worsley (London Wasps) in place of Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks) and Hendre Fourie (Leeds Carnegie).

Prop Paul Doran-Jones (Gloucester Rugby), scrum half Joe Simpson (London Wasps) and full back Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby) have been released to join the England Saxons squad preparing to play Ireland A in Belfast on Friday. The Saxons name their team later today.

The other players in the squad who have returned to their clubs are Fourie, George Chuter (Leicester Tigers), George Skivington (Leicester Tigers), Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints), Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks) and David Strettle (Saracens).

England team
15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby, captain)
12 Shontayne Hape (Bath Rugby)
11 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
10 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4 Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
5 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
6 Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
7 James Haskell (Stade Francais)
8 Nick Easter (Harlequins)

Replacements
16 Steve Thompson (Leeds Carnegie)
17 David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
18 Simon Shaw (London Wasps)
19 Joe Worsley (London Wasps)
20 Danny Care (Harlequins)
21 Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)
22 Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)