Narraway’s Gloucester teammate Lesley Vainikolo is named on the bench, while the Cherry and Whites also supply Iain Balshaw and Mike Tindall for the backs.
With Harlequins forward Nick Easter struggling to overcome a knee injury, Narraway has been given the chance to make the No.8 shirt his own. England have seen Lawrence Dallaglio and Martin Corry both retire, so that means Coach Brian Ashton will pair Narraway with James Haskell and Lewis Moody in a new-look back-row.
The surprise inclusion of Balshaw, though, means Mathew Tait – England’s best player in the Rugby World Cup Final three months ago – is cruelly axed from the squad. Tindall gets the nod at outside centre, with Ashton opting to pair Newcastle’s Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood at the 10-12 axis.
Paul Sackey has overcome the mumps to start on the wing alongside David Strettle, while Andy Gomarsall pips young pretender Richard Wigglesworth to the No.9 shirt.
Elsewhere in the forwards, veteran hooker Mark Regan retains his place ahead of Bath’s Lee Mears, with Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery forming a heavyweight front row. Simon Shaw has recovered from an ankle injury to partner Steve Borthwick in the second row.
Vainikolo’s role as an impact player will be pivotal to England’s hopes, while the Tongan-born winger is joined by fellow uncapped players Wigglesworth and Danny Cipriani.
England:
15. I Balshaw (Gloucester)
14. P Sackey (Wasps)
13. M Tindall (Gloucester)
12. T Flood (Newcastle)
11. D Strettle (Harlequins)
10. J Wilkinson (Newcastle)
9. A Gomarsall (Harlequins)
1. A Sheridan (Sale Sharks)
2. M Regan (Bristol)
3. P Vickery (Wasps, Capt)
4. S Shaw (Wasps)
5. S Borthwick (Bath)
6. J Haskell (Wasps)
7. L Moody (Leicester)
8. L Narraway (Gloucester)
Replacements:
16. L Mears (Bath)
17. M Stevens (Bath)
18. B Kay (Leicester)
19. T Rees (Wasps)
20. R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks)
21. D Cipriani (Wasps)
22. L Vainikolo (Gloucester)
