True grit sees Hodgson given chance to prove himself

The international days of the Sale Sharks star, who hails from Halifax, seemed numbered following his defensive calamities in New Zealand during the abysmal 2008 tour.

He was hauled off after 50 minutes of the first Test after a series of blunders which left the England coaching team labelling the erring fly-half a defensive liability.

But, with no Toby Flood or Jonny Wilkinson for the non-cap international, Hodgson is named at No 10 for the Twickenham contest with current team manager Martin Johnson believing the talented 29 year-old has now added grit and substance to that part of his game.

There is a strong Yorkshire flavour to the squad with uncapped former Bradford Bulls centre Shontayne Hape finally getting his chance to impress.

The ex-Kiwi rugby league international was a member of England's Six Nations squad but never featured, going closest when named as a late call-up on the bench against Wales in February only to pull out sick on the morning of the game.

The Bath player is joined at centre by Otley-born Mike Tindall, while fellow Yorkshireman Danny Care is at scrum-half.

Ex-Leeds lock Tom Palmer makes the starting line-up as does former Rotherham winger Dave Strettle who, like Olly Barkley on the bench, joins Hodgson in making his first England appearance since Auckland in 2008.

Harlequins No 8 Nick Easter captains a team including three uncapped players in the starting XV – Gloucester lock Dave Attwood, Newcastle prop Jon Golding and Hape. Johnson is without his Leicester contingent – including incumbent captain Lewis Moody – who are involved in Saturday's Premiership final against Saracens.

"We have picked a strong team.," said Johnson. "The Leicester boys play on Saturday but some guys haven't played since May 8 and some guys have had a long season – (Northampton winger) Chris Ashton has probably played the most so it was simple to leave him out this week.

"It's exciting to see Jon Golding playing for England, same as Dave Attwood at four and Shontayne who was around our squad in the Six Nations but didn't get a chance.

"Dave Strettle is a guy who has been around the squad but he got injured then ill so he couldn't tour last year.

"The same with Olly, who has had his injury problems, while Charlie has been around Test level for a number of years."

England: B Foden (Northampton); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), M Tindall (Gloucester), S Hape (Bath), D Strettle (Harlequins); C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), D Care (Harlequins); J Golding (Newcastle), S Thompson (Brive), P Doran-Jones (Gloucester), D Attwood (Gloucester), T Palmer (Stade Francais), J Haskell (Stade Francais), S Armitage (London Irish), N Easter (Harlequins, capt). Replacements: L Mears (Bath), T Payne (Wasps), D Ward-Smith (Wasps), J Worsley (Wasps), J Simpson (Wasps), O Barkley (Bath), M Tait (Sale Sharks).