Chris Ashton has been handed an England recall in place of Jack Nowell as Eddie Jones makes two changes to his starting line-up that will face France on Sunday, with Courtney Lawes replacing the injured Maro Itoje as expected.
The 31-year-old Ashton will make his first start since the autumn international against Japan last November, having ended a four-and-a-half-year absence after returning from France to join Sale Sharks. Furthermore, it will be Ashton’s first Six Nations start since the harrowing 30-3 defeat by Wales in March 2013 that cost England both the title and the Grand Slam.
The wing brings with him a prolific try record, scoring 20 tries in his 43 Test appearances that puts him among the very best among international finishers still playing the game, while he also broke the Top 14 try record during his lone season with Toulon with 24 tries in 23 appearances, surpassing the existing record of 21.
The selection sees Jones rotate his wings after Nowell started the 32-20 victory over Ireland last Saturday, though the Exeter Chief is included among the replacements that means fit-again Bath wing Joe Cokanasiga is left out of the side.
Lawes meanwhile returns to the starting line-up after being demoted to the replacements’ bench against Ireland, having been part of the second row that started against Australia last time out in 2018. The Northampton Saints lock beats Joe Launchbury to the No 4 shirt in Itoje’s absence, with the Saracens lock ruled out of this weekend’s clash with France as well as the 23 February encounter against Wales, but England have not ruled the 24-year-old out of the final two rounds of the championship against Italy and Scotland.
“After the Ireland game we have had to refocus and reset,” Jones said. “Players have been very good and certainly by Sunday we’ll be at our best.
“The French are always an interesting side to play against. They are full of talent, they have a lot of unpredictability so it’s hard to prepare tactically against them so we have had a real focus on ourselves.
“It is unfortunate Maro is injured but he has been rehabbing well so we are hopeful he will be back earlier than maybe first predicted. We have got great depth in the squad so Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes will fill his shoes very well.
“We have gone for Chris Ashton on the wing; we think he might sneak us a try early in the game. Jack Nowell was brilliant against Ireland and he’ll play a significant role for us off the bench.”
The rest of the starting line-up is as it was for the trip to Dublin, though Jones has changed both replacement props after sending Ellis Genge and Harry Williams home in mid-week, meaning Ben Moon is restored to the matchday squad and 82-cap veteran Dan Cole is selected for the first time in nearly a year, having been dropped after last year’s Six Nations.
Last Saturday’s man-of-the-match Mako Vunipola is joined in the front row by Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler, while Lawes joins George Kruis in the second row, with Mark Wilson, Tom Curry and Billy Vunipola completing the pack.
Behind them, Ben Youngs and captain Owen Farrell continue their partnership, with Manu Tuilagi and two-try-scorer Henry Slade making up the centre pairing, and Ashton is joined in the back three by Jonny May and Elliot Daly, who both crossed the whitewash at the Aviva Stadium.
Launchbury is joined among the replacements by Wasps’ Nathan Hughes, meaning there is no place for his club teammate Brad Shields despite his recovery from a side strain. Uncapped Dan Robson, fly-half George Ford and Nowell complete the bench.
England team to face France
Elliot Daly; Chris Ashton, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Jonny May; Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Courtney Lawes, George Kruis; Mark Wilson, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Moon, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Nathan Hughes, Dan Robson, George Ford, Jack Nowell.
