SOUTHAMPTON’S Mike Brown has retained his place in the England squad for their final match of the Rugby World Cup, against Uruguay, but will drop to the bench for the game.

England face their opponents at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday with their fate already sealed, after successive defeats to Wales and Australia condemned them to being the first ever hosts of the tournament not to advance past the group stage.

Sam Burgess has been dropped from the matchday 23, as the hosts enter the death throes of a tournament that effectively ended for them with last Saturday's 33-13 defeat by the Aussies.

In a possible glimpse into England's future backline, George Ford has been recalled at fly-half, Owen Farrell moves to inside centre and Henry Slade will win his second cap in the number 13 jersey.

Eight changes have been made to the starting XV toppled by the Wallabies, including scrum-half Danny Care and wing Jack Nowell making their first appearances of the World Cup.

Alex Goode lines-up at full-back with Brown dropping to the bench, where he is joined by Jonathan Joseph, who started the loss to Australia after recovering from a chest injury.

There has been only one change to the front row with Mako Vunipola preferred to Joe Marler, the second row of Joe Launchbury and Geoff Parling remains intact and James Haskell and Nick Easter start in the back row. Chris Robshaw continues at openside and leads the team.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster revealed that centre Brad Barritt and lock Courtney Lawes were not considered due to injury, while number eight Ben Morgan and scrum-half Ben Youngs were ruled out as they are not able to train until Thursday.

''This is an opportunity for us to finish the tournament with a strong performance against Uruguay and a chance for the likes of young players such as Jack Nowell and Henry Slade to play in a World Cup,'' Lancaster said.

''We owe it to ourselves and the supporters who have been brilliant throughout. This is an important game for rugby in the north of England and we want to give those people who have been looking forward to this game something to cheer about.''

England team to face Uruguay: A Goode (Saracens); A Watson (Bath), H Slade (Exeter Chiefs), O Farrell (Saracens), J Nowell (Exeter Chiefs); G Ford (Bath) D Care (Harlequins); M Vunipola (Saracens), T Youngs (Leicester Tigers), D Cole (Leicester Tigers), J Launchbury (Wasps), G Parling (Exeter Chiefs), J Haskell (Wasps), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), N Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: J George (Saracens), J Marler (Harlequins) , D Wilson (Bath), G Kruis (Saracens), T Wood (Northampton Saints), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), J Joseph (Bath), M Brown (Harlequins).