England have named an unchanged starting line-up for the RBS 6 Nations match against Italy at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, February 12.
The only change to team manager Martin Johnson’s squad is on the bench where Leeds Carnegie flanker Hendre Fourie takes over from Joe Worsley (London Wasps).
England have not lost to Italy in 16 previous encounters and triumphed 17-12 at the Stadio Flaminio in the last meeting thanks to Matt Tait’s try.
There are only five survivors in the starting line-up from that day in hooker Dylan Hartley, tight head Dan Cole, flanker James Haskell, No.8 Nick Easter and wing Mark Cueto.
England Team to face Italy:
15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
13 Mike Tindall -Captain- (Gloucester Rugby)
12 Shontayne Hape (Bath Rugby)
11 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
10 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4 Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
5 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
6 Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
7 James Haskell (Stade Francais)
8 Nick Easter (Harlequins)
Replacements:
16 Steve Thompson (Leeds Carnegie)
17 David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
18 Simon Shaw (London Wasps)
19 Hendre Fourie (Leeds Carnegie)
20 Danny Care (Harlequins)
21 Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon)
22 Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)