Flood starts for England

Toby Flood has been named in the England starting XV for Saturday's Six Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin. [more]

Flood starts for England

Toby Flood has been named in the England starting XV for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin.

The Leicester outside-half replaces Brive’s Andy Goode for the round three encounter at Croke Park.

Former Newcastle stand-off Flood missed the opening day win over Italy earlier in the month but appeared as a second-half replacement during the 23-15 defeat to Wales.

Flood’s inclusion is the only change to England’s starting line up, although Danny Care takes over from Paul Hodgson as scrum-half cover in the matchday 22.

England manager Martin Johnson’s decision to recall Flood, who started November’s defeat to New Zealand, means England will have schanged their starting fly-half seven times in their 10 matches.

Danny Cipriani, who started three of the four autumn internationals, again misses out on a squad place, with Goode providing fly-half back up from the bench.

Prop Tim Payne and utility back Ben Foden will also travel with the squad after not been named in the 22.

England

Delon Armitage (London Irish); Paul Sackey (Wasps), Mike Tindall (Gloucester), Riki Flutey (Wasps), Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks); Toby Flood (Leicester), Harry Ellis (Leicester); Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks), Lee Mears (Bath), Phil Vickery (Wasps), Steve Borthwick (Saracens, captain), Nick Kennedy (London Irish), James Haskell (Wasps), Joe Worsley (Wasps), Nick Easter (Harlequins) 

Replacements: Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Julian White (Leicester), Tom Croft (Leicester), Luke Narraway (Gloucester), Danny Care (Harlequins), Andy Goode (Brive), Matthew Tait (Sale Sharks)

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