Owen Farrell and Ben Youngs, the halfbacks potentially key to England’s assault on the 2015 World Cup, will get a taste of operating under the highest pressure in the Six Nations decider against Wales.
Flyhalf Farrell, 21, missed last week’s 18-11 victory over Italy with a thigh strain but comes back in for Toby Flood, while 23-year-old Youngs will start in Cardiff having edged out Danny Care in the team named by coach Stuart Lancaster yesterday.
Tom Croft, who appeared as a replacement against Italy 11 months after breaking his neck, starts at blindside flanker instead of James Haskell while Joe Marler is back at prop for Mako Vunipola in the two other changes from last weekend.
Victory for England would give them their first grand slam since 2003 but they could lose and still win their second championship in three years if the defeat is by less than eight points.
Defending champions Wales would also take the title with a seven-point win as long as England do not score three more tries than them in tomorrow’s match.
“We have come a long way through the QBE series and the Six Nations and we want to finish well on what will be a fantastic occasion in Cardiff,” Lancaster said in a statement.
“Every single player, whether they are in the 23 or not this Saturday, has contributed to getting us in this position and they should be proud of that.”
Meanwhile, prop Gethin Jenkins returns from a calf injury to captain Wales in the absence of Ryan Jones.
Jenkins, who missed last weekend’s 28-18 win over Scotland, was preferred to flanker Sam Warburton who led Wales to the grand slam year.
“Gethin comes back in and will captain the side and his leadership will be invaluable,” Wales interim coach Rob Howley said.
Jones misses the match after breaking a shoulder bone against Scotland.
Paul James drops to the replacements to make room for Jenkins, who will win his 98th cap, while Justin Tipuric comes in as openside flanker for Jones in the only other change to the team that won at Murrayfield.
Warburton will switch to blindside flanker and Aaron Shingler replaces Tipuric on the bench.