Leicester Tigers centre Dan Hipkiss joins Andy Farrell in the English midfield to finally win his first cap and there is a return to the pack for Sale Sharks prop Andrew Sheridan and London Wasps lock Simon Shaw. Shaw was man of the match in the corresponding fixture in Cardiff four years ago ahead ofthe 2003 tournament.

Sheridan returns to action in the front row having not played for the past five months, while the 35-year-old Bristol hooker Mark Regan will be making his fourth appearance against Wales 11 years on from his first in 1996. Fellow front row man, Phil Vickery, will lead the side.

England: Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks); David Strettle (Harlequins), Dan Hipkiss (Leicester Tigers), Andy Farrell (Saracens), Jason Robinson (Unattached); Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons), Shaun Perry (Bristol); Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks), Mark Regan (Bristol), Phil Vickery (London Wasps), Simon Shaw (London Wasps), Steve Borthwick (Bath), Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Joe Worsley (London Wasps)

Replacements: George Chuter (Leicester Tigers), Matt Stevens (Bath), Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers), Laurence Dallaglio (London Wasps), Peter Richards (London Irish), Toby Flood (Newcastle Falcons), Matt Tait (Newcastel Falcons)