Full back Armitage, centre Flutey and No.8 Easter return after injuries ruled them out of the Investec Challenge Series last November. The side shows six changes from the one that started England’s last international against New Zealand.
Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks) – who celebrates his 24th birthday on the day of the game – forms a new centre pairing with Flutey, Danny Care (Harlequins) takes over from Paul Hodgson (London Irish) at scrum half and David Wilson (Bath Rugby) returns at tight head.
The replacements include uncapped Leicester Tigers prop Dan Cole. Also on the bench is Leicester Tigers fly half Toby Flood, another player back in the squad after injury ruled him out of the autumn programme.
Andd Warren Gatland believes Wales can repeat their success of 2008 when hetakes his side to face England at Twickenham on Saturday.
The stunning second-half comeback was Wales’ first victory in 20 years at HQ. And the Wales head coach insists his men are good enough to achieve thesame standard which was set in his first match in charge two years ago.
Gatland said: “We have two sides who are going to be desperate to win and we both know how important a good start in the championship is going to be.
“It’s a great game for us to start with and I just hope it will be the catalyst it was for us two years ago. Winning at Twickenham gave us the confidence and momentum for the rest of the championship.”
ENGLAND TEAM
15 Delon Armitage (London Irish)
14 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
13 Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks)
12 Riki Flutey (CA Brive)
11 Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
10 Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon)
9 Danny Care (Harlequins)
1 Tim Payne (London Wasps)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3 David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
4 Simon Shaw (London Wasps)
5 Steve Borthwick (Saracens, captain)
6 James Haskell (Stade Francais)
7 Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers)
8 Nick Easter (Harlequins)
Replacements
16 Steve Thompson (CA Brive)
17 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
18 Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
19 Steffon Armitage (London Irish)
20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish)
21 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
22 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
