In the absence of the injured Lewis Moody, Johnson has again turned to the experienced Tindall will be hoping for a repeat performance of his first game as captain – a 26-19 RBS 6 Nations victory over Wales in February,

Only prop Alex Corbisiero and winger Mark Cueto survive from last weekend’s 23-19 win over the Welsh at Twickenham.

The backline is largely the same as the one that helped England win their first Six Nations title in eight years apart from Saracens’ Richard Wigglesworth being given a start at scrum-half in the absence of Ben Youngs.

“Last weekend’s match was hugely competitive and we expect more of the same as we prepare to travel to the Millennium Stadium,” said Johnson. 

“We took a lot out of Saturday’s game and this weekend gives the selected players their opportunity and a chance for us to improve our overall performance.”

Openside flanker Hendre Fourie is given only his second start in a back-row featuring Nick Easter and Tom Wood.

Leicester bruiser Louis Deacon partners Courtney Lawes in the boiler room while Dan Cole and Corbisiero pack down either side of veteran hooker Steve Thompson.  

Perhaps just as significant as the players picked are those who don’t make the 22 including Joe Simpson, Tim Payne, Paul Doran-Jones and Chris Robshaw with ten players still to be cut England’s current squad of 40.

England XV

15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby, captain)
12 Shontayne Hape (London Irish)
11 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
10 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)

1 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
2 Steve Thompson (London Wasps)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4 Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
5 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
6 Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
7 Hendre Fourie (Sale Sharks)
8 Nick Easter (Harlequins)

Replacements: 
16 Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
17 Matt Stevens (Saracens)
18 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
19 James Haskell (Ricoh Black Rams)
20 Danny Care (Harlequins)
21 Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)
22 Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)