Rugby:Steve Borthwick has been retained as England captain for the Six Nations Championship. England manager Martin Johnson confirmed the appointment after the squad arrived in Portugal for a pre-tournament training camp.
Borthwick, the Saracens lock, has captained England in every Test since Johnson took charge of the national team ahead of the 2008 autumn internationals.
Johnson's decision to delay the announcement of his captain had prompted speculation there could be a change both in the leadership and the balance of the secondrow.
Worcester loosehead prop Matt Mullen and Leicester tight-head Dan Cole have been called into the squad for the tournament in place of injured frontrow pair Andrew Sheridan and Julian White.
Leicester scrumhalf Ben Youngs and the loose-forward pair of Wasps number eight Dan Ward-Smith and Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw have also been promoted.
England have further concerns over the fitness of James Haskell, who injured his knee playing for Stade Francais against Edinburgh at the weekend, but a decision over his availability will be delayed until after a scan.
Youngs has been promoted as cover for Leicester team-mate Harry Ellis, who is battling a chronic knee problem, but he will return to the England Saxons squad to prepare for Sunday's game against Ireland A.
Robshaw and Ward-Smith, whose inclusion takes the tally of New Zealand-born players in the squad to four, have replaced Joe Worsley, who is out for at least the first two games, and Tom Croft.
Ward-Smith was poised to make his international debut in the 2007 Six Nations only to dislocate his knee playing for Bristol a week before England tackled Scotland.
The frontrow changes were inevitable with Sheridan still out of action after suffering a dislocated shoulder, while White is only just returning from a torn hamstring injury.
The decision to select Mullen and Cole, ahead of the more experienced White, Duncan Bell and David Flatman, suggests England are looking firmly to the future.
England's scrum coach Graham Rowntree is a card-carrying fan of Mullen, who would have received a call in the autumn had he not been among a throng of injured props.
Cole is effectively Leicester's third-choice tight-head but the 22-year-old has taken his chance during the recent absence of White and Martin Castrogiovanni.
Johnson flagged up the potential front-row changes when his revised 32-man squad was announced earlier this month - but at the time he declined to confirm Borthwick as captain.
In discussing a potential change to the balance of his second row, following Courtney Lawes' promotion into the squad, Johnson opened the door to the possibility he could change captains.
"Steve's done a great job but everyone is competing for places. That's the way it has to be and the way Steve would want it," Johnson said.
Borthwick has been criticised for his on-field captaincy - particularly when England lost their discipline last season and collected 10 yellow cards in four games - and his own international performances.
Lewis Moody, England's one outstanding player during a miserable autumn campaign, and fit-again Harlequins number eight Nick Easter were both tipped as potential captains.
But those who work closely with Borthwick - particularly Johnson and Saracens boss Brendan Venter - have never been able to understand the criticism.
Under Borthwick's leadership, Saracens have become genuine Guinness Premiership title contenders.
Venter said recently: "We are a good rugby side because of Steve Borthwick.
"If we are going to end up having a great season and competing at the highest level it is because of Steve Borthwick. Steve is everything I want in a captain."
The absence of Croft's lineout ability after the Leicester flanker suffered a knee injury will only have strengthened the case for Borthwick to be retained in the secondrow.