England stomach another change

Phil Vickery has been ruled out of Sunday's clash with Italy in Rome after picking up a stomach bug.

Captain Phil Vickery became the latest casualty for injury-ravaged England when he was forced out of the Six Nations clash against Italy with a stomach bug.

The Wasps prop appeared to have recovered from a calf muscle strain, and his absence robs head coach Brian Ashton of another seasoned campaigner.

Steve Borthwick will skipper the side in Rome, Matt Stevens will take Vickery's place in the team at tighthead, while Bristol's uncapped Jason Hobson moves up to the replacements' bench.

England (revised): 15 Iain Balshaw, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Toby Flood, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Andy Gomarsall, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Michael Lipman, 6 James Haskell, 5 Steve Borthwick(captain), 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Mark Regan, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Lee Mears, 17 Jason Hobson, 18 Ben Kay, 19 Luke Narraway, 20 Richard Wigglesworth, 21 Danny Cipriani, 22 Mathew Tait.