* Martin Johnson takes charge of his first Test match as England's new team manager. He is the 13th England boss, not including Rob Andrew's caretaker stint in the summer.

* Johnson's England includes four starting debutants - the same number Clive Woodward picked in his first team selection for a 15-15 draw with Australia in November 1997.

* Steve Borthwick will captain England on home soil for the first time after leading the side against Italy in Rome and on the summer tour to New Zealand.

* Delon Armitage becomes the fourth different player in four successive Tests to wear the England full-back jersey, following Iain Balshaw (against Ireland), Mike Brown (New Zealand) and Mathew Tait (New Zealand).

* England have never played the Pacific Islanders.

* The Pacific Islanders are picked from the cream of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. The alliance, formed in 2002, also includes the Cook Islands and Niue.

* The Pacific Islanders have toured every two years since 2004 but are yet to win a Test match.

* In 2004, the Islanders played Australia, New Zealand and South Africa before tackling the three Celtic nations in 2006.

* Saracens scrum-half Mosese Rauluni, Worcester prop Aleki Lutui, Leicester centre Seru Rabeni and Clermont Auvergne centre Seremai Bai have played in all six Pacific Islanders Tests.

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