 Robinson scored three tries in the opening two Six Nations games |
England wing Jason Robinson has been ruled out of Saturday's Six Nations game with Ireland with a neck injury. The Sale back suffered the injury in training on Wednesday and has not recovered, so Harlequins wing David Strettle comes in for his first cap.
Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson will be given until Saturday lunchtime to prove his recovery from a tight hamstring.
Wilkinson sat out training on Thursday and Mike Catt has been summoned as cover, although Toby Flood would start.
Wilkinson's 21-year-old Newcastle team-mate has won four caps as a replacement, but has yet to start a Test match.
Robinson, persuaded by coach Brian Ashton to come out of international retirement, has scored three tries in the opening two Six Nations games against Scotland and Italy.
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"The medics and Jason himself decided he wasn't going to play," said Ashton. "You would never, ever risk a player with a neck injury in a game of this magnitude."
But his absence gives Strettle, 23, who joined Quins from Rotherham last year, the chance to bring the form that has seen him score nine tries in 14 appearances this season onto the Test stage.
A member of England's Sevens squad, he has enjoyed two impressive outings for the England Saxons recently against Italy A and Ireland A.
"I would never have thought this might happen a year ago, or even a week ago," Strettle told BBC Five Live.
"It has come pretty quickly, but I am very happy about it."
Ashton opted for Strettle ahead of promoting Newcastle centre Mathew Tait from the bench, or recalling a more experienced player such as Ben Cohen or the fit-again Mark Cueto.
 Strettle is in his first season of Premiership rugby |
"Brian has had a chat with me and just said 'play your usual game, back yourself and go out and do what you do'" Strettle added. "It will be a baptism of fire, but it is going to be superb. There will be some brilliant players on that pitch and it is going to be fun.
"Obviously, I will be nervous - I don't know many players who don't get nervous before games - but it is a case of trying to keep them under control.
"It is fantastic to get your first cap, and the fact it will be at Croke Park makes it a bit special."
Ashton insists he has no qualms about playing Strettle saying: "David is a lad on form, who is scoring tries. He has got pace, good feet and is a tremendous finisher.
"Speaking to people like Jim Mallinder (England Saxons coach), he says David is someone who remains unflustered on big occasions, and that will certainly help him here on Saturday."
Losing Wilkinson as well as Robinson would be a huge blow to England, given the pair have accounted for all but five of the 62 points they have scored in the Championship to date.
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But England's fly-half was practising his goal-kicking at Croke Park on Friday morning, and is likely to play providing there is no reaction overnight.
"As far as Jonny Wilkinson goes, he's being assessed as we speak," added Ashton. "So I'll wait and see what the medical report is on him.
"But there's still a long time before the game starts and a lot can happen in that time."
And England skipper Phil Vickery added: "We are disappointed to have lost Jason, and we all hope Jonny will pull through.
"Jonny knows if he is not right, he won't put himself out there, and if Toby comes in, he has been around the squad since the autumn and he is playing fantastically well for Newcastle.
"You have to deal with what is in front of you. You cannot start making excuses before the kick-off."
Former Ireland captain Keith Wood acknowledged the lift it would provide Ireland if Wilkinson is not in the visitors' line-up.
"The line I always used was that I wanted to play against the best players," Wood told the BBC. "But by the same token you want to win, and I think Ireland's chances will be a damn sight better if Jonny isn't playing."
Revised England team: Morgan (Gloucester); Lewsey (Wasps), Tindall (Gloucester), Farrell (Saracens), Strettle (Harlequins); Wilkinson (Newcastle), Ellis (Leicester); Freshwater (Perpignan), Chuter (Leicester), Vickery (Wasps, c), Deacon (Leicester), Grewcock (Bath), Worsley (Wasps), Lund (Sale), Corry (Leicester).
Replacements: Mears (Bath), White (Leicester), Palmer (Wasps), Rees (Wasps), Perry (Bristol), Flood (Newcastle), Tait (Newcastle).
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