Flutey in as Hape is allowed to go back to his club

Leicester prop Dan Cole, 22, is the only other change to the side that defeated Wales at Twickenham last Saturday, after Bath's David Wilson was ruled out with a shoulder injury.

Team manager Martin Johnson could yesterday only name his starting XV for the trip to Rome and has delayed picking his seven replacements until tomorrow as he waits on a number of injury issues to be cleared up.

Captain Steve Borthwick has yet to train this week and has been isolated from the squad due to a sickness bug but is named in the second row alongside Simon Shaw, who also sat out training yesterday.

Lewis Moody, who suffered a number of impact injuries in a trademark wrecking-ball performance at Twickenham last Saturday, trained in a non-contact jersey but is expected to start at flanker.

Shontayne Hape, the former Bradford Bulls and New Zealand rugby league player, was initially named on the bench for last Saturday's win over Wales but had to withdraw through illness.

With Flutey back from a dead leg, Hape has been released back to Bath to represent his club against London Irish with Johnson likely to name the more versatile and experienced Toby Flood among the replacements.

Flutey, who was the joint top try-scorer in last year's Six Nations, missed the entire autumn campaign but returns to a buoyant backline that scored three tries last week.

The Brive centre's inclusion at the expense of Flood only strengthens the attacking options in Johnson's team who responded to stinging criticism last autumn with a more imaginative and potent display against Warren Gatland's Wales.

Johnson said: "Riki is an international class player and it is good to have him back on the field with us."

Leeds-born scrum-half Danny Care, whose instinctive display last week helped engineer a victory, has earned a second straight start in the No 9 shirt.

Cole – who was on loan at National One club Nottingham last year – made his debut from the bench against Wales and gains ascension this week due to Wilson's shoulder injury, on top of the long-term injury concerns of first-choice front row players Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery.

"Dave Wilson took a bit of a knock last week so he has been limited in training and it is the perfect opportunity to bring Dan in," said Johnson.

"We are very pleased to do that. I thought he was impressive when he played last week and the way he has handled this week. He can do a good job for us.

"We knew there was potential in him and getting the opportunity at Leicester to play games, his development has been rapid over the last few months."

Johnson has kept Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw, Northampton lock Courtney Lawes and Worcester prop Matt Mullan with the squad.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has been forced to make two changes to his 24-man squad ahead of England's visit.

Valerio Bernabo and Pablo Canavosio return to the national team in place of Carlo Antonio Del Fava and Simon Picone who were both unavailable for selection after they sustained injuries during training.

Meanwhile, Leeds Carnegie head coach Neil Back has saluted Hendre Fourie for his impressive debut for the England Saxons in Italy earlier this week.

The Saxons, coached by former Leeds rugby director Stuart Lancaster, defeated Italy 31-5 in Treviso with South African-born Fourie, 30, playing 58 minutes.

With another Leeds back row Jacob Rowan captaining England Under-20s, Back believes it shows the positive strides being made by Leeds.

"The club has got tremendous potential," said Back, who earned 66 caps for England. "The academy structure is first class and the infrastructure in place is a great platform for the club.

"I'm really pleased for Hendre, he's been the players' player of the year at Leeds for the last two seasons.

"He's had an outstanding Premiership season to date and that's obviously been recognised by the England management.

"Kearnan Myall got the opportunity last season and we've got Jacob Rowan captaining the Under-20s and scoring a debut try for them – it's all good for Leeds Carnegie."

England: D Armitage (London Irish); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), M Tait (Sale Sharks), R Flutey (Brive), U Monye (Harlequins); J Wilkinson (Toulon), D Care (Harlequins); T Payne (Wasps), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), S Shaw (Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), J Haskell (Stade Francais), L Moody (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements: to be confirmed.

A try apiece for centre pairing Bevon Armitage and Hudson Tonga'uiha plus one for winger Andy Wright helped Doncaster Knights towards a 27-7 victory at Coventry in the Championship.

James Brooks kicked a penalty and two conversions and Stevie McColl one penalty and a conversion for the Knights, who lost Chris Hallam to the sin bin early in the second half but withstood home pressure throughout his 10-minute absence.

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