England and France conflict at Twickenham at the moment in a doubtlessly decisive Six Nations fixture.
Both groups are within the chasing pack behind table-toppers Ireland and stay in with an opportunity of successful the 2023 Championship – however victory right here is crucial.
England have proven glimpses of promise beneath new coach Steve Borthwick, who hopes the choice of Marcus Smith at fly-half can add some inspiration to their backline and inisists the dropping of Owen Farrell will not be right down to his off-form with the boot.
“Every kicker has small dips and the great kickers always come back and improve their percentage,” England’s head coach mentioned. “I consider every aspect and you’d expect me to do that. I try to do this job as thoroughly as possible. Owen’s been kicking brilliantly in training this week, as has Marcus. There are wider aspects to be considered within this game and gameplan, not simply the goalkicking.
“If you were to track all the teams I’ve selected there have been some pretty bold decisions. I’ve tried to pick the right team for that game, I don’t consider how it will be perceived by the outside. Owen has been brilliant, as he always is. He trains brilliantly and he leads this team fantastically well, whatever role he’s playing.”
When is England vs France?
England host France at Twickenham at the moment, Saturday 11 March, at 4.45pm GMT.
How to observe on TV and on-line
England vs France shall be broadcast stay on free-to-air channels ITV and STV. To live-stream the sport on-line, viewers can entry the ITVX and STV web sites and apps.
Team information
Marcus Smith has been entrusted with the fly-half duties for England’s conflict with France after Steve Borthwick made the bombshell resolution to drop captain Owen Farrell. Farrell has been demoted to the bench for the primary time since 2015 for Saturday’s Twickenham showdown with the Grand Slam champions.
Ellis Genge is called captain for the primary time instead of Farrell however there aren’t any additional adjustments to the beginning XV that toppled Wales in spherical three.
Jonathan Danty returns to the beginning XV for France for the primary time because the La Rochelle centre featured within the opening victory over Italy in final season’s competitors, on the expense of Yoram Moefana.
Tighthead prop Dorian Aldegheri is ready to make his first look of the competitors as he is available in for the suspended Mohamed Haouas. Haouas noticed crimson after a head-on-head contact with Scotland’s Ben White and joins fellow prop Uini Atonio on the record of these suspended.
Blindside flanker Francois Cros replaces Toulouse team-mate Anthony Jelonch, who sustained an ACL harm throughout final month’s win over Scotland. Jelonch’s harm is prone to rule him out of the World Cup this autumn, which France host.
Confirmed line-ups
England
F Steward (Leicester Tigers); M Malins (Saracens), H Slade (Exeter Chiefs), O Lawrence (Bath Rugby), A Watson (Leicester Tigers); M Smith (Harlequins), J van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers); E Genge (Bristol Bears, capt), J George (Saracens), Ok Sinckler (Bristol Bears), M Itoje (Saracens), O Chessum (Leicester Tigers), L Ludlam (Northampton Saints), J Willis (Toulouse), A Dombrandt (Harlequins).
Replacements: J Walker (Harlequins), M Vunipola (Saracens), D Cole (Leicester Tigers), D Ribbans (Northampton Saints), B Curry (Sale Sharks), A Mitchell (Northampton Saints), O Farrell (Saracens), H Arundell (London Irish).
France
France group: T Ramos (Toulouse) ; D Penaud (Clermont), G Fickou (Racing 92), J Danty (La Rochelle), E Dumortier (Lyon); R Ntamack (Toulouse), A Dupont (Toulouse, capt); C Baille (Toulouse), J Marchand (Toulouse), D Aldegheri (Toulouse), T Flament (Toulouse), P Willemse (Montpellier), F Cros (Toulouse), C Ollivon (Toulon), G Alldritt (La Rochelle).
Replacements: P Mauvaka (Toulouse) , R Wardi (La Rochelle), S Falatea (Bordeaux Begles), R Taofifenua (Toulon), S Macalou (Stade Francais), M Lucu (Bordeaux-Begles), Y Moefana (Bordeaux Begles), M Jaminet (Toulouse).
