Lawrence Dallaglio, who retired from international rugby some 17 months ago, is named on England’s bench for the Six Nations clash against Wales on Saturday.

Dallaglio stood down when captain in August 2004 citing family reasons but made himself available for England selection again at the start of this season.

Dallaglio's return to the squad was virtually assured when Worcester's Pat Sanderson suffered a recurrence of his back injury at the weekend.

But the 33-year-old - who broke his ankle on the Lions tour last summer - will be restricted to a bench role after captain Martin Corry recovered from bruised ribs and head coach Andy Robinson preferred to start with Joe Worsley at blind-side flanker.

Dallaglio, selected on the bench ahead of Sale's Chris Jones and Gloucester's Jamie Forrester, has only won five of his 73 Test caps as a replacement.

England's starting XV has a familiar look, featuring only three changes - two of them injury-enforced - from the first-choice side that was narrowly beaten 23-19 by New Zealand in November.

Harry Ellis is preferred to Matt Dawson at scrum-half while Matt Stevens replaces injured prop Phil Vickery and Worsley comes in for Sanderson.

Mike Tindall and Jamie Noon are once again paired in the centres. Josh Lewsey stays at full-back and Ben Cohen starts on the wing.

Leicester prop Julian White returns to the squad after missing the autumn internationals and Lee Mears provides back-up for hooker Steve Thompson

ENGLAND:  J Lewsey (Wasps); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), J Noon (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester), B Cohen (Northampton); C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), H Ellis (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), S Thompson (Northampton), M Stevens (Bath), S Borthwick (Bath), D Grewcock (Bath), J Worsley (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester), M Corry (capt, Leicester).  Replacements: L Mears (Bath), J White (Leicester), S Shaw (Wasps), L Dallaglio (Wasps), M Dawson (Wasps), A Goode (Leicester), T Voyce (Wasps).