Wilkinson (left) and Farrell will play alongside each other for England

Wilkinson returns for the first time since the 2003 World Cup, Robinson is back from Test retirement and league convert Farrell makes his debut.

"We need players with the intelligence, understanding and skills, who've been at the top and challenged themselves.

"It was important to get those players in right from the start," Ashton said.

Interview: England's Jonny Wilkinson

"It is about having the mind-set to almost develop a game within a game, and as a coach you have got to have massive trust in your players."

The trio are among 11 changes from the team beaten by South Africa in November, as England's eighth defeat in nine games ended Andy Robinson's tenure as coach.

"We have had a real reality check as to where we are, and where we need to be," head coach Ashton noted.

I've just got a gut feeling that just having Farrell and Robinson on the field together again might spur them on to something special Brian Ashton

"After the autumn Tests, we sat down as coaches and said we had to find a starting point in 2007. I am excited, as are the players, and there is a feeling and desire within the squad to go out and put England back on the map again.

"We want to develop our game, and maybe take it to levels where we haven't been to before."

Farrell and Robinson were former team-mates at Wigan rugby league side and Ashton, whose father played for Wigan, was keen to reignite the old flames.

"Andy Farrell has been right up at the top of the game in another code and I'm not asking him to play significantly differently," said Ashton.

"I've just got a gut feeling that just having Farrell and Robinson on the field together again that it might spur each other on to something special."

Despite the potential fireworks waiting to explode behind the scrum, Ashton insists England's forwards are pivotal figures in any revival.

"Traditionally, we've had one of the strongest packs in world rugby. But on the evidence of the autumn games, maybe that wasn't the case.

"We need to get our forward play back to where it was, and the forwards have to go out and deliver on Saturday.

"It is a major job for us all to get the show back on the road very quickly. It is difficult to know where this team could end up, if you look at the potential in it and around it.

"We have started to get back some very experienced players, with some very talented young players coming through.

"There seems to be a little bit of a buzz around. I am excited by where this team can get to, and we have got to start in the right way."