England vs France LIVE
Six Nations 2019
Venue: Twickenham Stadium
England return to Twickenham for the second weekend of the tournament and welcome a France side that once again proved that the old saying about their wild unpredictabilty is more than just a well-worn cliche.
Les Bleus were dominant in the opening 40 minutes against Wales last Friday night, with tries from Louis Picamoles and Yoann Huget ensuring they went in at the interval leading by 16 points. It could have been more too, were it not for a difficult night from the tee for Morgan Parra in inclement weather.
The self-sabotage that transpired thereafter bordered on farcical for Jacques Brunel and co, as inexplicable blunders from Huget and Sebastien Vahaamahina allowed the opportunistic George North to inspire a remarkable 24-19 comeback victory for the Welsh. A losing bonus point was certainly no consolation.
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Team news and line-ups
Chris Ashton will make his first Six Nations start since 2013 as Jack Nowell drops to the bench, with Jones looking for the experienced former Toulon wing to make an early impact.
England's only other change sees Courtney Lawes partner George Kruis in the second row as Maro Itoje recovers from a grade two medial ligament tear in his knee.
After initial fears that he could miss the remainder of the tournament, Jones is hopeful that the Saracens lock will be fit to face Wales in Cardiff on February 23.
Lawes' promotion means that Joe Launchbury comes onto the bench. Likewise props Dan Cole and Ben Moon, with Harry Williams and Ellis Genge dropping out of the matchday squad.
England XV: Daly; Ashton, Slade, Tuilagi, May; Farrell, Youngs; M Vunipola, George, Sinckler; Lawes, Kruis; Wilson, Curry, B Vunipola
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Cole, Moon, Launchbury, Hughes, Robson, Ford, Nowell
France make six changes from opening night, with Mathieu Bastareaud brought back into the midfield to try and combat the significant physical impact of a certain Manu Tuilagi.
Geoffrey Doumayrou is also drafted in as Brunel opts to restore the centre partnership that started in the win over England last year. Young Romain Ntamack drops to the bench and Wesley Fofana misses out on the 23.
Further re-shuffling in the backs sees Huget move to full-back to cover the injured Maxime Medard and Gael Fickou playing opposite Damian Penaud on the flanks.
Much was made of France fielding the heaviest forward pack in rugby union history against Wales, but it gets lighter this week with the formidable Uini Atonio injured.
20-year-old Demba Bamba takes his place in the front row and Felix Lambey partners Vahaamahina at lock after an impressive cameo in the second half against Wales. Paul Willemse is the man to make way.
Yacouba Camara gets the nod at blindside over Wenceslas Lauret.
France XV: Huget; Penaud, Doumayrou, Bastareaud, Fickou; Lopez, Parra; Poirot, Guirado, Bamba; Lambey, Vahaamahina; Camara, Iturria, Picamoles
Replacements: Bourgarit, Priso, Aldegheri, Willemse, Alldritt, Dupont, Ntamack, Ramos
TV channel and live stream, and online coverage
ITV and the BBC are sharing broadcasting rights for the Six Nations for the third successive year, with ITV - having also had the game at the Aviva - hosting England v France on its main free-to-air channel and via the ITV Player.
You can also follow all the action with Standard Sport's LIVE blog.
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