- Flood promoted to starting line-up for Wales
- Flutey ruled out with thigh knock sustained in training
Toby Flood has been promoted to England’s starting line-up after Brive centre Riki Flutey sustained a knock to his right thigh in the course of training yesterday.
The Leicester Tigers back will play at inside-centre and join Mathew Tait in a new midfield partnership for the RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales at Twickenham tomorrow (KO 5pm).
Following assessment of Flutey’s thigh injury by England medical staff this morning, it was decided that he would not recover sufficiently to take part in the Wales game.
Injury deprived Flood of any test match action during the summer tour and autumn series but the former Newcastle Falcon has amassed 26 caps for England.
He has made 14 starts, split equally between centre and fly half.
Bath Rugby centre Shontayne Hape is now included on the bench in Flood’s place.