Leicester's Toby Flood will replace Flutey in Martin Johnson's starting line-up. New Zealand-born league convert Shontayne Hape replaces Flood’s position on the bench.

"Following assessment of the injury by the England medical staff this morning, it has been decided that he would not recover sufficiently to take part in the match against Wales at Twickenham Stadium," an RFU statement said on Friday.

Flood will be winning his 27th cap, but questions now arise as to what Martin Johnson’s game plan will be now. After backing up his decision to play Flutey alongside Tait initially, by stating that he was looking to play an attacking game he seems to have now adjusted this view drastically with Flood’s inclusion.

"The good thing for us is that Toby has played a lot of Test rugby at 12. He has a kicking game and is an experienced Test player now."

With Lee Byrne now back for the Welsh at fullback one seriously questions the wisdom of adopting a kicking strategy if it is indeed what is going through Johnno's head.