Farrell captains experienced England side for France test in Paris

Eddie Jones has named an experienced England team packed with British & Irish Lions for their trip to Paris for their opening game of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations. [more]

Farrell captains experienced England side for France test in Paris

Two-time tourist Owen Farrell will captain the side at inside centre alongside fellow Lions Manu Tuilagi, Ben Youngs and Elliot Daly – at outside centre, scrum-half and left wing respectively.

George Ford starts inside Farrell at fly-half while George Furbank will make his England debut at full-back as Jonny May takes his place on the right wing following Anthony Watson’s injury.

Tom Curry is selected as No.8 with Sam Underhill at openside flanker and Courtney Lawes, who featured on the 2017 Tour win in New Zealand, at blindside flanker.

Elsewhere, there is also a heavy Lions contingent in the pack with Maro Itoje, Jamie George, Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler all named in the starting XV alongside Bath Rugby’s Charlie Ewels.

Prop Will Stuart is included as a replacement and the second uncapped player in the match day 23.

Jones, heading into his fifth Six Nations as England head coach, said: “It has been a massively exciting week for us. It is the start of the Guinness Six Nations, the best rugby tournament in the world.

“We have had a great preparation in Portugal with a quality training week this week. We have really worried about ourselves, getting ourselves right.

“We have picked a strong forward pack which is part of the England way and an exciting backline with young George Furbank playing his first Test at fullback.

“France can expect absolute brutality from England, we are going to go out there to make sure they understand what Test rugby is. It is about being brutal, it is about being physical and it is about dominating the set piece.”

England last played France in the 2019 edition of the tournament, beating Les Bleus 44-8 at Twickenham Stadium. Under Jones, England have won two of the last four Six Nations, including a Grand Slam in 2016.

England starting XV

15 George Furbank (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
14 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps)
13 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 40 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 79 caps) C
11 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 39 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 65 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 95 caps)
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 68 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 45 caps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 31 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 34 caps)
5 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 81 caps)
7 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)
8 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 19 caps)

Finishers

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 21 caps)
17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 14 caps)
18 Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
19 George Kruis (Saracens, 41 caps)
20 Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
21 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 9 caps)
22 Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap)
23 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 47 caps)

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