LONDON (Reuters) - Slowly, without fanfare, Brian Ashton's England revolution is gathering pace as the 61-year-old coach backs up his promise to give youth its chance.

Danny Cipriani stole the headlines after being named for his first start in Saturday's Six Nations game against Scotland and the 20-year-old Wasp with less than 30 minutes' international experience behind him from two replacement appearances will be certainly the focus of attention at Murrayfield.

But the flyhalf-turned-fullback will not be the only man short of top-level game time in an England team that is already starting to take on a very different identity than the one which reached the World Cup final only four months ago.

None of Saturday's back three had appeared in the Six Nations before this season. Lesley Vainikolo, who converted from rugby league at the start of the season, will be winning his fourth cap while Paul Sackey has suddenly become the wise old head having won 13 caps after making his debut 18 months ago.

Scrumhalf Richard Wigglesworth will be winning his third cap while his two back-ups in the squad - Paul Hodgson and Danny Care, have yet to taste action for the senior team.

The back row is another area where there has been a major overhaul. Gone for good are gnarled stalwarts Lawrence Dallaglio and Martin Corry while Joe Worsley and Lewis Moody are temporarily out of the frame.

Lining up on Saturday will be Tom Croft, making his first start, Michael Lipman, winning his sixth cap and Nick Easter, a veteran of 14 caps in his 13-month international career. With two-cap Luke Narraway on the bench it makes for a callow group in the fearsome area of contact which traditionally calls for streetwise operatives.

Ashton, however, makes no apology for the direction he is taking as he constantly re-iterates the need for England to move their game on from the defensive, forward-based attritional style that eventually saw them through to the World Cup final.

"The key thing with young players is not what position they are playing but whether they are mentally ready to play international rugby," he said after announcing his team on Tuesday.

"If they are then I'm quite happy to start them."

For all his vision, however, Ashton remains convinced that any international is fought first and foremost up front and says there is no substitute for experience in the tight five.

Consequently, his choice of Andrew Sheridan, Lee Mears, Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw and Steve Borthwick will ensure there should be no rushes of blood when it comes to elemental aspects in Edinburgh.

And there is always Jonny Wilkinson, who not only kicks his goals but brings a calm assurance to all those around him, and justified Ashton's unswerving faith with an accomplished display in last month's victory over France in Paris.

(Editing by Justin Palmer)