Wilkinson retains number 10 spot

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The Newcastle fly-half retains his place, despite producing a poor performance when England slumped 26-19 at home to Wales in their tournament opener.

But giant prop Andrew Sheridan has become England's latest injury casualty and is replaced by Wasps forward Tim Payne, who wins his sixth cap.

Details of Sheridan's injury will be released at the England training camp in Bath later on Wednesday.

It is another huge setback for England, especially given the tough battle they can expect from an Italian front row that includes revered Leicester prop Martin Castrogiovanni.

Sheridan joins centre Mike Tindall (bruised liver), wing David Strettle (foot) and flanker Lewis Moody (Achilles), who were all hurt against Wales, together with Moody's replacement, Wasps' Tom Rees (knee ligament).

England head coach Brian Ashton makes five changes following that crushing Twickenham setback - four of them enforced through injuries.

Newcastle centre Jamie Noon takes over from Tindall in an all-Falcons midfield alongside Wilkinson and Toby Flood. It will be Noon's first England appearance since a knee injury forced him out of the World Cup last September.

Rugby League recruit Lesley Vainikolo, who went on for Strettle last Saturday, gets a first Test start, while back-row switches see Bath flanker Michael Lipman and Harlequins number eight Nick Easter both included.

Lipman, London-born but educated in Australia, wins a fourth cap - he has not previously played in the Six Nations - with World Cup regular Easter returning following a knee injury that has sidelined him since December 29.