Ireland v England team news: England have rejigged their halfback partnership ahead of Saturday's Six Nations trip to Croke Park but there is still no place for the out of favour Danny Cipriani. Instead, Leicester's Toby Flood is handed the responsibility at number 10 with Andy Goode dropping to the replacement's bench.
Leicester outhalf Flood’s inclusion is the only change coach Martin Johnson has deemed necessary as he attempts to arrest England’s poor run of form.
Goode, who started in the defeat to Wales and the unconvincing win over Italy, will be joined on the bench by scrumhalf Danny Care, who returns from injury in place of Hodgson.
Flood and Care had been pencilled in as manager Martin Johnson's preferred halfback pairing for the championship but both suffered injuries before the first game.
Flood, who had a calf problem, played the final half hour in Cardiff after Goode had been sin-binned and added some spark to England's backline.
He did, however, miss a penalty that would have kept his side within five points with 10 minutes remaining.
Johnson enjoyed the most successful years of his international career with Jonny Wilkinson cemented as England's outhalf and he is anxious for one of his candidates to keep hold of the jersey.
"You want players to nail down the position. We need a core of players who when we pick the side are consistent in international rugby," he said today. "There are a few positions which have been chopped and changed for various reasons and this is Toby's opportunity to take hold of it with a goo performance.
"Toby's kicking game has been very good when he has come on, his defence has improved as has his grasp of what we are trying to do in attack and his distribution has been good.
"We have seen a bit more composure from him this season. This is a chance for Toby to come in and get a start.
"I thought he did well when he started there against the All Blacks (in November) and this is an opportunity to nail down the position."
Flood was an unused replacement when England played at Croke Park for the first time two years ago and said this week that game was his favourite Six Nations memory.
"England were hammered (43-13) but just for the sheer emotion of the occasion and for the way in which playing there obviously meant so much to so many people, it was a real eye-opener and has stayed with me," he said.
"The atmosphere is really special and obviously has an impact on the Irish players and we'll have to be ready for it."
England gained some revenge with a 33-10 victory at Twickenham last year to end a run of four successive defeats to Ireland but will have to build on the promising signs they showed at Cardiff to triumph on Saturday.
Ireland named their team yesterday with coach Declan Kidney keeping faith with the players that triumphed against Italy and France.
England(v Ireland): D Armitage (London Irish); P Sackey (Wasps), M Tindall (Gloucester), R Flutey (Wasps), M Cueto (Sale Sharks); T Flood (Leicester), H Ellis (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), L Mears (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), N Kennedy (London Irish), J Haskell (Wasps), J Worsley (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), J White (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), L Narraway (Gloucester), D Care (Harlequins), A Goode (Brive), M Tait (Sale Sharks).
