The Bath forward has suffered a recurrence of the shoulder injury which ruled him out of Englands 18-12 defeat by Scotland three weeks ago.

Stevens will be replaced in the front row by Leicesters Julian White, while Perry Freshwater is called up to the replacements bench.

White was one of six World Cup winners dropped from the England side by head coach Andy Robinson after Paris, with Stevens switched to tighthead prop and Andrew Sheridan recalled.

But White now gains an unexpected recall, winning his 33rd cap, with Perpignan prop Freshwater summoned for duty.

Robinson said: I am disappointed for Matt, but it also gives Julian another opportunity to start.

Perry has been part of the squad for some time now, and I had no hesitation in bringing him on to the bench.

England are striving to avoid suffering three successive RBS 6 Nations defeats for the second season in a row, and they look certain to miss Stevens power and mobility against a Triple Crown-chasing Irish side.

Match referee Joel Jutge, meanwhile, has also been forced out by injury, and will be replaced by Wales Nigel Whitehouse, with Nigel Owens taking over from Whitehouse as a touch judge.

Owens had been due to run the line in Rome, where Italy host Scotland on Saturday, but his touch judges role at Stadio Flaminio now goes to Englands Wayne Barnes.