Clive Woodward has urged his side to raise their game oonce again when they tackle Romania at Twickenham on Saturday.

The England boss has made nine changes - seven personnel and two positional switches - following last weekend's stirring 21-15 victory over World Cup holders Australia.

Sale fly-half Charlie Hodgson, who celebrated his 21st birthday yesterday, has been handed an England debut, while wing Ben Cohen, centre Mike Tindall, hooker Mark Regan, prop Jason Leonard and flanker Lewis Moody all gain starting places.

Either Bath lock Steve Borthwick or Leeds' highly-rated Tom Palmer will partner Ben Kay in the second-row. Borthwick suffered a knee injury during Bath's Premiership win against London Irish, and a decision on his fitness will be made tomorrow.

If given the green light by England's medical staff, then Borthwick starts, otherwise Palmer can look forward to winning a second cap.

Elsewhere, Austin Healey moves from wing to scrum-half - his first England start in that position since the 1999 World Cup - and Will Greenwood lines up at inside centre, accommodating Tindall's return.

England should stroll past a Romanian side crushed 81-9 by struggling Wales earlier this season, but an all-star cast of substitutes - Mike Catt, Jonny Wilkinson, Kyran Bracken and Danny Grewcock among them - confirms Woodward is leaving nothing to chance.

Leonard, axed for the Australia clash, will become world rugby's most-capped forward, overtaking legendary New Zealander Sean Fitzpatrick, who made 92 All Blacks Test appearances.

Woodward tonight conceded his players could be distracted by Saturday week's Twickenham appointment with South Africa, but has demanded total concentration against Romania.

"This is a difficult week for this group of players because they've got one eye on South Africa, but we have got to be absolutely full-on for this fixture. It is important that we keep the momentum going," he said.

England could have Martin Johnson back in their ranks for the Springboks showdown.

The Lions captain broke his hand during Leicester's league success against Northampton last month, but Woodward believes it is "99þertain Johnson will return to action when the Tigers visit Sale on Saturday.

Johnson, who has seen the England leadership reins pass to Matt Dawson and then Neil Back during an enforced absence, will be in contention against South Africa, provided he emerges unscathed from his planned comeback match.

Back skippered England superbly against Australia, presenting Woodward with a possible captaincy dilemma if Johnson features next week, but the manager added: "I've not even thought about it, to be honest."

Unlike last weekend, none of Woodward's 22 will be released for Premiership action this time around.

Gloucester prop Phil Vickery and Saracens flanker Richard Hill will remain with the England squad even though they are not required against Romania.

"We have a big game coming up against South Africa, and this is a three-week international period when I must use every advantage that I've got," he said.

"Having said that, we are working closely with the clubs, and I fully support people like Dean Richards and Rob Andrew. It is very difficult, having international and club matches at the same time, and I wish that we didn't have this clash - it is not ideal.

"I wish there weren't any clashes, it's wrong. We don't want to be penalising clubs such as Leicester or Bath for providing most England players. It should be the complete opposite, we should be rewarding them, and the whole situation doesn't sit comfortably with me.

"Fortunately, the Premiership directors of rugby, without exception, are all excellent. They all want their guys to play for England, and are prepared to sacrifice them playing for their clubs.

"It's not their fault, it's not my fault, it's other peoples' decisions to put these games on when clubs are playing very important league matches."

Despite the weakness of opposition on Saturday, advance ticket sales have already topped 55,000, and several players will relish the big stage again.

Northampton wing Cohen, having taken a back seat behind Healey, Jason Robinson and Dan Luger this season, has a golden opportunity to impress ahead of the South Africa Test, while injury-hit Tindall returns following an 11-cap run last year.

"It's a big day for people like Cohen and Tindall," Woodward added. "Ben has been unlucky not to get a start so far this season, and I am keen to see him and Dan Luger back in harness together.

"Mike Tindall is a proven player who has performed well for England - I'm delighted that he is back."

South Africa, like Australia before them, might provide the real business of this three-Test autumn programme, but Romania is an important challenge for fringe players with World Cup 2003 aspirations, even though Saturday's Twickenham outcome appears to be a desperately foregone conclusion.