Tindall fit to face Wales

Gloucester Rugby centre Mike Tindall is fit and takes over from Jamie Noon while London Wasps’ Joe Worsley will start in place of Steffon Armitage at open-side flanker. 

Armitage made his international debut in last Saturday’s 36-11 win over Italy but has now dropped out of the match squad altogether.

Worsley who made his name as a blind-side flanker as Wasps became champions of England and then Europe, has been handed the number seven jersey after England lost Tom Rees, Lewis Moody and Michael Lipman to injury. 

Worsley played for England at open-side in the World Cup warm-up internationals against Wales and France in the summer of 2007.

There is no place in England’s squad for Danny Cipriani, who was left out by Johnson last week on the premise he needed game time but was then denied a chance to impress when the England Saxons match against Ireland A was postponed due to the weather.

With Harlequins’ Danny Care still out of contention due to injury, London Irish and England Saxons scrum half Paul Hodgson has been called up to the bench in place of England newcomer Ben Foden. Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers) is also named among the replacements. 

Wales will name thier starting lineup on Thursday.

England team to face Wales: 

D Armitage (London Irish); Sackey (Wasps), Tindall (Gloucester), Flutey (Wasps), Cueto (Sale); Goode (Brive), Ellis (Leicester); Sheridan (Sale), Mears (Bath), Vickery (Wasps), Borthwick (Saracens, capt), Kennedy (London Irish), Haskell (Wasps), Worsley (Wasps), Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: Hartley (Northampton), White (Leicester), Croft (Leicester), Narraway (Gloucester), Hodgson (London Irish), Flood (Leicester), Tait (Sale).