Jonny Wilkinson has been dropped by England for only the third time in his twelve-year international career.

Toby Flood will start at fly-half against Grand Slam-chasing France on Saturday after Martin Johnson made six changes to the side which drew 15-15 with Scotland.

The only previous occasions when Wilkinson was dropped from the England team were for Paul Grayson at the 1999 World Cup and for Danny Cipriani in the 2008 Six Nations.

Wilkinson suffered a heavy blow to the head at Murrayfield and was forced from the field, but has been passed fit after monitoring from the England medics and is named on the bench.

Flood made a difference to England's laboured attacking game when he came on at Murrayfield and will look to unleash a revamped back line which features Ben Foden, debutant winger Chris Ashton and Mike Tindall.

Foden gets his long-awaited chance to start at full-back after two eye-catching cameo appearances off the bench. The off-form Delon Armitage has dropped out of the squad altogether.

Ashton has scored 19 tries in 25 games for Northampton this season and will make his Test debut on the wing in place of Ugo Monye, who damaged his neck at Murrayfield.

Tindall, who has made three starts for Gloucester after four months out with a hamstring injury, returns to the England team in place of Mathew Tait at outside centre.

England will expect Tindall to provide a physical midfield presence opposite the potentially destructive French centre Mathieu Bastareaud.

The axe has also fallen on James Haskell, who slips to the bench with Lewis Moody back in the starting XV at openside flanker with Joe Worsley moving to blindside.

Simon Shaw reclaims his place in the second row from Louis Deacon after missing the Scotland game through injury.

England have beaten France in each of their last three meetings, including twice in Paris in the 2008 Six Nations and the 2007 World Cup semi-final.

But the French have been comfortably the best team in the championship this year and can wrap up a Grand Slam with a win on Saturday evening.

England: 15 Ben Foden (Northampton), 14 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), 13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester), 12 Riki Flutey (Brive), 11 Chris Ashton (Northampton), 10 Toby Flood (Leicester), 9 Danny Care (Harlequins), 8 Nick Easter (Harlequins), 7 Lewis Moody (Leicester), 6 Joe Worsley (Wasps), 5 Steve Borthwick (Saracens, capt), 4 Simon Shaw (Wasps), 3 Dan Cole (Leicester), 2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton), 1 Tim Payne (Wasps).
Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson (Brive), 17 David Wilson (Bath), 18 Louis Deacon (Leicester), 19 James Haskell (Stade Francais), 20 Ben Youngs (Leicester), 21 Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon), 22 Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks).

Date: Saturday, March 20
Venue: Stade de France, St. Denis (Paris)
Kick-off: 20.45 (19.45 GMT)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)