Goode handed England chance

Goode, 28, starts at fly-half after England boss Martin Johnson demoted Danny Cipriani to the Saxons, while Toby Flood has been struggling with a calf injury.

England's starting XV features five changes from the November defeat to New Zealand and includes a debut for London Irish flanker Steffon Armitage, who has been promoted straight into the team following injuries to Tom Rees, Lewis Moody and Michael Lipman.

Leicester scrum-half Harry Ellis was recalled into the senior squad on Tuesday afternoon as injury cover for Danny Care, who rolled his ankle in training.

Care will be assessed over the next 48 hours before any final decision on his availability to face Italy is confirmed.

Ellis, who only recently returned from a six-week suspension, was edged out of the original 22-man squad by Foden, who can play both scrum-half and full-back.

Meanwhile, Steffon and full-back Delon Armitage will become the first brothers to play in the same England team since the Underwoods, Rory and Tony, in 1995.

Mike Tindall returns at outside centre, with Mark Cueto back on the wing for the first time since the 2007 World Cup final to replace the injured Ugo Monye, while Andrew Sheridan returns at loose-head.

Northampton's versatile back Ben Foden is poised to make his debut off the bench, where he features alongside veteran Leicester prop Julian White, who replaced Matt Stevens in the elite squad.

On Monday, Cipriani was dropped to the Saxons squad for Friday night's game against Ireland A in Dublin.