TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Fin Smith and Marcus Smith are both in England’s backline for Saturday’s Six Nations clash against France at Twickenham, with Fin Smith starting at flyhalf for the first time.
England coach Steve Borthwick, whose side were beaten 22-27 by champions Ireland last week, has moved Marcus Smith to fullback in order to accommodate 22-year-old flyhalf Fin Smith at No.10.
That means Fin Smith will be alongside Alex Mitchell, his halfback partner at Northampton, with Freddie Steward, England’s fullback in their tournament opener in Dublin, no longer in the matchday 23.
Ollie Sleightholme, another Northampton back, returns on the wing in place of the injured Cadan Murley, with Saracens star Tom Willis brought in to add heft to the back row against a France side that thrashed Wales 43-0 last week.
England: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Tom Curry, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Will Stuart, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Ben Curry, 22 Harry Randall, 23 Elliot Daly.
Date: Saturday, February 8
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 16.45 (17.45 CET; 16.45 GMT)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy), Damian Schneider (Argentina)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
