Hobson’s place in the starting line up will be filled by Newcastle prop, Jon Golding, who wins promotion from the bench.  Golding was drafted into the squad yesterday in place of his Falcons’ team mate, David Wilson, who yesterday received a one week suspension from the Six Nations Disciplinary Committee.

The vacant spot on the replacements bench will be filled by John Brooks of Harlequins, who will fly to Sicily to meet up with the squad tomorrow, ahead of Saturday’s match.

England Saxons team to play Italy A
15. Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)
14. Tom Biggs (Leeds Carnegie)
13. Delon Armitage (London Irish)
12. Alex Crockett (Bath Rugby)
11. John Rudd (Newcastle Falcons)
10. Adrian Jarvis (Harlequins)
  9. Lee Dickson (Newcastle Falcons)
 1. Alex Clarke (Bristol Rugby)
 2. David Paice (London Irish)
 3. Jon Golding (Newcastle Falcons)
 4. Peter Short (Bath Rugby)
 5. Nick Kennedy (London Irish)
 6. Phil Dowson (Newcastle Falcons, captain)
 7. Ben Woods (Newcastle Falcons)
 8. Tom Guest (Harlequins)

Replacements
16. Andrew Long (Newcastle Falcons)
17. John Brooks (Harlequins)
18. Andrew Springgay (Bayonne)
19. Will Skinner (Harlequins)
20. Danny Care (Harlequins)
21. Mike Brown (Harlequins)
22. Topsy Ojo (London Irish)

Full player and management profiles and headshots are available from www.rfu.com/profiles.  For further information on fixtures and previous results please go to www.rfu.com/saxons.

England Saxons Fixtures and Results
England Saxons 31-13 Ireland A, Friday 1 February (7.45pm), Welford Road
Italy A v England Saxons, Saturday 9 February (6.15pm local time)

Ends