Dawson back as England scrumhalf

Rugby Six Nations Championship: England coach Clive Woodward has been forced to reshuffle his hand to accommodate a minor injury kerfuffle ahead of Saturday's Six Nations Championship game against Ireland at Twickenham.

There are three changes to the side which disposed of Scotland last time out at Murrayfield: Steve Borthwick and Joe Worsley are introduced to the pack, while Matt Dawson is reinstated at scrumhalf ahead of Gloucester's Andy Gomarsall.

Dawsonreplaced Gomarsall against the Scots and will win his 60th cap when he takes the field against Ireland.

Woodward admitted: "Since the Rugby World Cup Matt's been a little slow in coming back but he's back to full fitness now.

"I've been very pleased with Gomarsall in the first two games, but I think Matt is just a little bit ahead - only a small bit, but he still has the edge."

Dawson's constant sniping round the fringes and non-stop chatter will keep the Irish back row on their toes. He is a more direct prospect for the opposition, though Gomarsall would have a crisper passing action.

Bath's Borthwick was in line for inclusion against the Scots but was suspended by an English RFU hearing for a disciplinary transgression involving a knee in a club game. He will win his ninth cap on Saturday.

He will partner Leicester's Ben Kay in the second row after injury reduced Borthwick's main rivals to the sideline. Bath team-mate Danny Grewcock picked up an Achilles tendon injury while playing club fare last weekend, while Wasps' Simon Shaw, who came off the bench against the Scots, is ruled out with a facial injury.

"Steve is a good player and with him and (Ben) Kay it's a strong second row and we have Chris Jones to cover," Woodward said.

"But it's been a bad position for injuries this weekend. Danny Grewcock got injured playing for Bath. Simon Shaw is out with a facial injury. He's had an X-ray and they think he's cracked one of his bones in his face.

"In a very short space of time we've lost Martin Johnson, Danny Grewcock and Simon Shaw at lock, but we're very excited about Borthwick."

Wasps flanker Joe Worsley returns to the back row following injury and replaces the versatile and athletic Chris Jones, who drops to the bench.

The team was not alone in suffering something of a shake-up as there are further changes among the replacements. Bath's South Africa-born, English naturalised 21-year-old prop Matt Stevens is promoted ahead of veteran Jason Leonard.

The Harlequins prop holds the world record for most caps (114), but won't add to that tally against Ireland.

"It's a tough call," Woodward conceded. "We picked on merit and I felt it was right Jason was involved in the first two games. But for this game we've brought in young Matt Stevens for his first full international if he gets on.

"I just want to see Matt on the bench and playing at home will be a lot easier for him. I want to see him brought on tactically. I've spoken to Jason at length about this. He's obviously disappointed but accepts fully the ups and downs of being selected."

Woodward was keen to point out that it did not necessarily spell the end of Leonard's career.

It wasn't a complete routing of the aged, as Neil Back, originally omitted from England's Six Nations squad prior to the tournament, returns to the replacements, while there is also a call-up for flying Gloucester wing James Simpson-Daniel ahead of his club-mate Henry Paul, who drops out of the match 22.

England have not lost at Twickenham since 1999, but Woodward was not about to start tempting fate as he favoured the traditional pre-match platitudes in relation to the opposition.

"We're going to find Ireland very tough. They've got everything to win and nothing to lose. It's very important the Twickenham crowd gets behind the team, so we want them wearing white shirts, hats and scarves."