Les Bleus arrive in London after launching the tournament with a rout of Wales in Paris last week, running in seven tries. England, however, were beaten by defending champions Ireland in Dublin β their seventh straight loss to a leading nation. They will need to be if they are to avoid a repeat of the corresponding fixture at Twickenham where a rampant France won , scoring seven tries, as England suffered their heaviest home defeat. France, however, will be without Romain Ntamack on Saturday after the gifted flyhalf was sent off against Wales for a high tackle.
Matthieu Jalibert takes over at No. But whereas France, who only edged out England in Lyon last year, have been forced into a flyhalf change, home coach Steve Borthwick has opted to give the year-old Fin Smith a first Test start at No.
England, however, must first subdue a monstrous French pack if either of the Smiths are to shine in attack. Borthwick guided England to the World Cup semifinals in France only to suffer an agonising loss to champions South Africa.
For England: The big talking point in Fin Smith at flyhalf. Smith at flyhalf means that Marcus Smith moves to fullback. The year-old Fin Smith, who will step into the shoes of his childhood heroes Jonny Wilkinson and Owen Farrell, will have a huge task against France.
Fin will be alongside Alex Mitchell, his halfback partner at Northampton. 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. Matthieu Jalibert replaces the suspended playmaker Romain Ntamack. Jalibert, 26, will play his first Test since leaving the set-up in November for personal reasons.
