Leicester halfback Harry Ellis will start in England's Six Nations opener against Italy on Saturday after first-choice Danny Care was ruled out of the Twickenham match with an ankle injury.

Care strained ligaments above his right ankle while training on a snow-covered pitch on Tuesday and has not recovered sufficiently to be risked against the Italians.

Ellis, who has 22 caps but hasn't started an England match in nearly two years, has been promoted directly from England's second-string Saxons side after team manager Martin Johnson decided against throwing uncapped Northampton halfback Ben Foden into the mix.

Foden will remain on the bench and Johnson said he was confident 26-year-old Ellis would prove to be a safe pair of hands.

"On behalf of the squad we all feel for Danny and wish him a speedy recovery," Johnson said.

"Harry is an experienced international and I'm sure he will do a good job for us on Saturday."

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