Flyhalf Danny Cipriani and back rowers Nick Easter and Tom Croft will take their places on an unfamiliar bench as Stuart Lancaster has been forced to deal with a host of injuries for tomorrow’s Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff.

Cipriani, who will cover starting flyhalf George Ford, last played a Six Nations game in 2008 while 36-year-old Easter’s last England game was the 2011 World Cup quarter-final defeat by France.

Croft was drafted into the squad only last week as injury cover, having missed almost all of last season with a knee injury.

In the team named yesterday, Jonathan Joseph and Leroy Burrell will be the starting centres in an inexperienced backline who will be severely tested by the formidable Welsh backs in what should be a red-hot Friday night opening to the championship.

With Manu Tuilagi out for the whole championship and Brad Barritt and Kyle Eastmond struggling to be fit for next week’s home game against Italy, tomorrow is a great opportunity for both players to stake a midfield claim.

Burrell was a regular last year but has suffered a series of head injuries while it will be a first appearance in the competition for Joseph, who will win his seventh cap on the back of a flying start to the season with Bath.

Dan Cole is rushed back for his first start in a year having not played any rugby since December and James Haskell replaces Tom Wood at blindside flanker.

Though England beat Wales at Twickenham last year, they are still somewhat haunted by their last visit to Cardiff in the Six Nations when, seeking a grand slam in 2013, they were blown away 30-3 on a night described by many Wales fans as the best atmosphere ever known at the Millennium Stadium.

With the two teams in the same tough pool – along with Australia – in this year’s World Cup, there really could not be more to play for.

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