Johnson urges Flood to take chance

Flood's inclusion is the only change made by Martin Johnson to the starting XV beaten 23-15 in Wales two weekends ago, although scrum-half Danny Care has recovered from an ankle injury to replace Paul Hodgson on the bench.

Johnson said: "There are a few positions which have been chopped and changed for various reasons and this is Toby's opportunity to take hold of it with a good performance."

He added: "Toy's kicking game has been very good when he has come on, his defence has improved as has his grasp of what we are trying to do in attack and his distribution has been good.

"We have seen a bit more composure from him this season. This is a chance for Toby to come in and get a start.

"I thought he did well when he started there against the All Blacks (in November) and this is an opportunity to nail down the position."

England have changed their starting fly-half seven times and used five different players in 10 Test matches, dating back to when Jonny Wilkinson was the incumbent during the 2008 RBS 6 Nations.

At times the England number 10 jersey may as well have been wrapped in layers of brown paper and used in a game of pass the parcel.

Since Danny Cipriani displaced Jonny Wilkinson at the end of last year's championship, the Wasps fly-half has started four times, Goode and Flood twice and Charlie Hodgson once.

Flood has been around the England set-up for more than two years and has won 23 caps, but only 11 of those have been in the starting XV, with just four at fly-half.