England hit by late Sheridan withdrawal....

England prop Andrew Sheridan has pulled out of Saturday's Six Nations game with Italy because of a back injury and has been replaced by Alex Corbisiero.

Corbisiero was due to play for London Irish this weekend but will now make his Test debut at Twickenham.

Manager Martin Johnson chose to promote the 23-year-old from the England Saxons squad rather than pick David Wilson, who remains on the bench.

Otherwise the side remains the same as the one that beat Wales last weekend.

Corbisiero, who was born in New York and has an Italian grandfather, will form part of one of the youngest and inexperienced England front rows in recent years.

He will come up against experienced Leicester prop Martin Castrogiovanni in what promises to be a formidable test, but Johnson has no doubt the debutant will handle the challenge.

"He's strong, fit and he can play at this level," said Johnson. "He's played against some of the best props in the world in the Premiership."

Corbisiero will scrum down with 24-year-old hooker Dylan Hartley and 23-year-old tight-head prop Dan Cole.

Italy meanwhile, have been forced to swap scrum-halves after Pablo Canavosio complained of "general fatigue".

Fabio Semenzato, brought into the squad this week after usual number nine Edoardo Gori injured a shoulder in last weekend's opening defeat by Ireland, will make his debut.

"Before training, Pablo, with a great sense of responsibility towards the team, informed us that he was still suffering from general fatigue and didn't feel up to being possibly used for 80 minutes," said team manager Luigi Troiani on Friday.

"The coaching staff have therefore decided to start Semenzato and use Canavosio if needed."

James Haskell was preferred at open-side flanker ahead of specialist number seven Hendre Fourie when Johnson named his original XV on Thursday.

Fourie displaces Wasps veteran Joe Worsley, who appeared as a replacement in Cardiff, on the bench.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/9393433.stm

Corbisiero is a solid player. He certainly wont weaken England but it will be interesting to see if nerves affect him.