The England fly-half suffered a rib cartilage injury against Gloucester two weeks ago, and is replaced in Falcons' number 10 shirt by Toby Flood.

Flood switches from the wing, where Tom May gains a call-up, while other changes see starts for scrum-half James Grindal and hooker Andy Long, together with locks Mark Sorenson and Jason Oakes.

England head coach Brian Ashton names a 32-man South Africa tour squad next Tuesday, which is expected to include Wilkinson, for Tests against the Springboks in Bloemfontein on May 26 and Pretoria seven days later.