Wilkinson, Vickery and Farrell out for England

England have suffered a triple injury blow for Sunday’s Six Nations showdown with title favourites France at Twickenham.

Phil Vickery (concussion), fly-half Jonny Wilkinson (hamstring) and centre Andy Farrell (back) are all out, prompting head coach Brian Ashton to name a much-changed team following the record 43-13 defeat by Ireland 10 days ago.

Julian White comes into the front row instead of Vickery, while Toby Flood will make his first Test start as replacement for his stricken Newcastle colleague Wilkinson.

Elsewhere, 35-year-old World Cup-winning veteran Mike Catt returns to the midfield as centre partner for Mike Tindall and will also captain the team, while number eight Martin Corry switches to the second row.

Jason Robinson has recovered from a neck injury to reclaim one of the wing berths alongside David Strettle, with Josh Lewsey moving to full-back instead of the injured Olly Morgan.

In the pack, four players – prop Perry Freshwater, locks Louis Deacon and Danny Grewcock, together with flanker Magnus Lund – pay the price after England were outmuscled in Dublin.

England team to play France in RBS 6 Nations Champions at Twickenham on Sunday, March 11:

J Lewsey (Wasps); J Robinson (Sale), M Tindall (Gloucester), M Catt (London Irish), D Strettle (Harlequins); T Flood (Newcastle), H Ellis (Leicester); T Payne (Wasps), G Chuter (Leicester), J White (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), T Palmer (Wasps), J Worsley (Wasps), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: L Mears (Bath), S Turner (Sale), L Deacon (Leicester), M Lund (Sale), S Perry (Bristol), S Geraghty (London Irish), M Tait (Newcastle).