Worsley to start for England

Joe Worsley will make his first start for England since the group stages of the 2007 World Cup after being selected at open-side flanker for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations game against Wales.

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

In England’s only other change to face the defending 6 Nations champions, Mike Tindall has recovered from a back injury to take the place of Jamie Noon at outside centre.

Worsley, predominantly a blind-side flanker by trade, has been pressed into action in the number seven jersey after England lost Tom Rees, Lewis Moody and Michael Lipman to injury, while Armitage struggled with the rigours of Test rugby on his debut last weekend.

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

Arguably his most famous performance in the position was for Wasps against Martin Johnson’s Leicester in the 2005 Guinness Premiership final on the eve of the Lions tour, when he out-played the retiring Neil Back.

Once again 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.

Armitage is joined out of the squad by Ben Foden, who made a lively debut off the bench against Italy, and Shane Geraghty.

Toby Flood takes over from Geraghty after recovering from a calf injury while Paul Hodgson provides the scrum-half cover.