Goode back for England and Armitage brothers to start

Flyhalf Andy Goode will make his first England appearance since 2006 on Saturday after coach Martin Johnson named him in the starting team to face Italy in the opening game of the Six Nations at Twickenham.

Goode, back to his best at Brive after moving from Leicester last year, was drafted into the squad only last week as injury cover for Toby Flood.

Johnson had announced on Monday that Danny Cipriani had been demoted from the senior squad to play for the Saxons on Friday night.

Flanker Steffon Armitage will make his debut, lining up alongside brother Delon as the first England brotherly pairing since Rory and Tony Underwood in the 1990s.

Steffon Armitage gets his chance at open side in the absence of injured trio Tom Rees, Michael Lipman and Lewis Moody.

There are three other changes to the team thrashed 32-6 by New Zealand in the last of three home beatings in November.

The vastly experienced Mike Tindall comes in for Jamie Noon at outside centre and Mark Cueto, whose last appearance was England's losing World Cup final in 2007, replaces the injured Ugo Monye.

Andy Sheridan, who missed the New Zealand defeat through injury, returns to the front row.

Old Trafford Venue

Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium will host the first of England's two rugby tests against Argentina in June, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said yesterday.

The June 6 clash will be the first England rugby international to be staged in Manchester since the All Blacks beat their hosts in 1997.