England boss Andy Robinson has admitted changes were essential for his team's RBS 6 Nations Championship showdown with France at Twickenham.

The World Cup holders will take on last season's Grand Slam champions on Sunday, after calling up five players who did not start the 11-9 defeat against Wales in Cardiff last weekend.

Centre Olly Barkley, scrum-half Harry Ellis, prop Phil Vickery, flanker Lewis Moody and number eight Martin Corry all start this time - while two positional switches see Jamie Noon moved to outside-centre and Joe Worsley featuring at blindside flanker.

Only tighthead Julian White has dropped out through injury - the Leicester forward has a neck problem - as England target a morale-boosting win before travelling to Ireland later this month.

"We have had quite a few injuries that have affected us," said Robinson.

"If you look back to the autumn it was a pretty settled side, but since then we have picked up quite a few injuries.

"When you are winning games it is easy to see the direction you are going in," he added.

"Because we lost a game (against Wales) - and there were a couple of glaring reasons why we lost - it just showed with the type of game we tried to play, at this present stage of where we are, we were not able to impart it tactically.

"Therefore you have got to look at that and say 'we have got to make changes'. There is no point in staying as you are and saying I hope we get it right this week."