Riki Flutey and Dan Cole have been named in England's team to play Italy in Rome on Sunday.

Flutey, a centre who plays for Brive, was named in the side to face Wales last week before withdrawing with a dead leg suffered in training. Cole, a Leicester tighthead prop, made his England debut as a replacement against the Welsh.

Flutey replaces Leicester's Toby Flood in the starting XV. Cole starts in place of Bath's David Wilson.

England's team manager, Martin Johnson has delayed naming his replacements for the match.

"Dave Wilson took a bit of a knock last week so he has been limited in training and it is the perfect opportunity to bring Dan Cole in," said Johnson. "We are very pleased to do that. I thought he was impressive when he played last week and the way he has handled this week. He can do a good job for us.

"We knew there was potential in him and [after] getting the opportunity at Leicester to play games, his development has been rapid over the last few months."

The captain, Steve Borthwick, sat out training yesterday after feeling unwell and he was kept in isolation from the rest of the squad, but England's management are confident he will be fit to play in Rome.

The flanker Lewis Moody said England would need to work hard if they were to beat Italy. "If Italy are good at anything, it is being a nuisance and stopping opposing teams from playing. There have not been too many classic Six Nations matches over the last decade involving the Azzurri," the Leicester player said.

"In terms of physicality Italy are right up there as one of the best teams in the world. That is what their game is about. Like Scotland, when they are at home they have an ability to pick themselves up by 50%.

"It is going to take every bit of our dog, heart and enthusiasm to get a result in Rome."

England, to play Italy: Delon Armitage (London Irish); Mark Cueto (Sale), Mathew Tait (Sale), Riki Flutey (Brive), Ugo Monye (Harlequins); Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon), Danny Care (Harlequins); Tim Payne (Wasps), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Dan Cole (Leicester), Simon Shaw (Wasps), Steve Borthwick (Bath, captain), James Haskell (Stade Français), Lewis Moody (Leicester), Nick Easter (Harlequins).