Ceri Sweeney was forced out of the Wales squad with injury

Sweeney's groin injury sees Nicky Robinson replace him on the bench, providing the back-up kicking option to first choice fly-half Stephen Jones.

"We are terribly disappointed for Ceri, who is such a great player," Wales coach Mike Ruddock said.

"But it's comforting to know we have a replacement of the quality of Nicky."

Sweeney pulled up in training on Wednesday afternoon and was ruled out of contention for this weekend's clash by the Wales medical team.

But the Dragons player is expected to recover in time for the following week's home match against Scotland.

Robinson has trained with the squad for the last week and has passed a fitness test on the injured shoulder that kept him out of the Cardiff Blues' recent Heineken Cup campaign.

Wales team to face England at Twickenham on Saturday: G Thomas (capt, Toulouse); M Jones (Scarlets), H Luscombe (Dragons), M Watkins (Scarlets), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (ASM Clermont Auvergne), D Peel (Scarlets); D Jones (Ospreys), R Thomas (Blues), A Jones (Ospreys), I Gough (Dragons), R Sidoli (Blues), C Charvis (Newcastle), M Williams (Blues), M Owen (Dragons).
Replacements: M Davies (Gloucester), G Jenkins (Blues), G Delve (Bath), A Popham (Scarlets), G Cooper (Dragons), N Robinson (Blues), L Byrne (Scarlets).