Eddie Jones has recalled Courtney Lawes and Chris Ashton – with the wing given specific orders to nab an early try – for Sunday’s Six Nations clash against France, who have recalled 19-stone centre Mathieu Bastareaud as one of six changes from the team that threw away a 16-0 half-time lead against Wales.
The injury to Maro Itoje, who Jones says is recovering quicker than expected from the knee ligament problem he suffered in victory over Ireland, meant England had to make one change, but Ashton comes in for Jack Nowell, who had an excellent game in Dublin.
“We have gone for Chris Ashton on the wing; we think he might sneak us a try early in the game,” said Jones. “Jack Nowell was brilliant against Ireland and he’ll play a significant role for us off the bench.
Jones resisted the temptation to select giant wing Joe Cokanasiga, who has not played for seven weeks due to a knee injury. He and Brad Shields were the two members of the 25-man squad not selected, with Ben Moon and Dan Cole – who has not played for England’s since last year’s Six Nations – on the bench alongside Joe Launchbury.
“After the Ireland game we have had to refocus and reset. Players have been very good and certainly by Sunday we’ll be at our best,” said Jones.
“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.”
There was an element of unpredictability about France’s selection. Jacques Brunel suffered three injuries, to prop Uini Antonio, centre Wesley Fofana and full-back Maxime Medard. That sees Yoann Huget shift from wing to full-back, and two players who would rather play centre selected on the wing, Gael Fickou and Damian Penaud. With Fofana injured and Romain Ntamack dropping to the bench, Bastareaud and Geoffrey Doumayrou are paired at centre, as they were when France beat England in Paris last March.
In the pack, prop Demba Bamba and lock Felix Lambey are rewarded with starts for fine showings off the bench in defeat to Wales, while Yacouba Camara is back from injury on the blindside flank. That gives France’s forward pack a lighter, more mobile look.
| No | Player | Club | Caps |
| Backs | |||
| 15 | Elliot Daly | Wasps | 26 |
| 14 | Chris Ashton | Sale Sharks | 43 |
| 13 | Henry Slade | Exeter Chiefs | 18 |
| 12 | Manu Tuilagi | Leicester Tigers | 28 |
| 11 | Jonny May | Leicester Tigers | 41 |
| 10 | Owen Farrell © | Saracens | 66 |
| 9 | Ben Youngs | Leicester Tigers | 81 |
| Forwards | |||
| 1 | Mako Vunipola | Saracens | 52 |
| 2 | Jamie George | Saracens | 33 |
| 3 | Kyle Sinckler | Harlequins | 18 |
| 4 | Courtney Lawes | Northampton Saints | 69 |
| 5 | George Kruis | Saracens | 28 |
| 6 | Mark Wilson | Newcastle Falcons | 9 |
| 7 | Tom Curry | Sale Sharks | 6 |
| 8 | Billy Vunipola | Saracens | 37 |
| Reserves | |||
| 16 | Luke Cowan-Dickie | Exeter Chiefs | 8 |
| 17 | Ben Moon | Exeter Chiefs | 4 |
| 18 | Dan Cole | Leicester Tigers | 82 |
| 19 | Joe Launchbury | Wasps | 54 |
| 20 | Nathan Hughes | Wasps | 19 |
| 21 | Dan Robson | Wasps | 0 |
| 22 | George Ford | Leicester Tigers | 52 |
| 23 | Jack Nowell | Exeter Chiefs | 30 |
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