Eddie Jones has announced the England team that will go in search of a first Six Nations Grand Slam in Paris this weekend.
There are two changes to the side that beat Wales last weekend, with Mako Vunipola replacing Joe Marler at loosehead prop, and Danny Care starting in place of Ben Youngs at scrum-half.
England head coach Eddie Jones said: “We’ve picked our best 23 who we know can get the job done in Paris.
“Everyone wants to be on the field this Saturday so selection was nip and tuck. Danny Care starts at scrum half with Ben Youngs finishing the game. Mako Vunipola comes in at loose-head for Joe Marler who will make an impact off the bench.
“While we are pleased to have already won the championship we don’t want to let our foot off the gas. The objective has always been to win every game, to be the most dominant team in Europe, so it’s been very important for us to approach this week with the same level of intensity we have shown in previous weeks. I’m pleased with how we have prepared and with the focus the squad have shown.
“You can’t underestimate any team in Test match rugby. France are a dangerous side but we go to Paris full of confidence and a hunger to get the win.”
ENGLAND TEAM TO PLAY FRANCE
15. Mike Brown (vice captain, Harlequins, 47 caps)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 19 caps)
13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (vice captain, Saracens, 39 caps)
11. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 14 caps)
10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 21 caps)
9. Danny Care (Harlequins, 57 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 31 caps)
2. Dylan Hartley (captain, Northampton Saints, 70 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 60 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 3 caps)
5. George Kruis (Saracens, 14 caps)
6. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, 47 caps)
7. James Haskell (Wasps, 66 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (vice captain, Saracens, 25 caps)
Replacements
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 2 cap)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins 41 caps)
18. Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints 16 caps)
19. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 31 caps)
20. Jack Clifford (Harlequins, 4 caps)
21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 56 caps)
22. Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 26 caps)
23. Elliot Daly (Wasps, 2 cap)
Tommy Taylor (Sale Sharks) and Alex Goode (Saracens) will also travel with the squad to Paris.
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Two good changes I think; it’ll allow us to really play at pace early on and potentially kill off any French motivation.
Can not wait to get into the Stade de France on Saturday!
Don’t forget to get to the stadium early. There might still be extra stringent security checks to get through. Enjoy the game should be a great atmosphere amoungst the away fans
Jacob, very jealous – tried to get tickets after the Ireland game & they were megabucks. Really pleased Care is in. Looks a good team and bench.
Enjoy the game you lucky B******
I booked it about 6 months ago – incredibly cheap tickets! Very happy the way it has played out!
Really hope you are still happy about it on Sunday!
Personally would have dropped Cole, he’s too much of a liability these days, but happy that Care is in over Youngs and that Daly saw off the challenge from Goode. The key to this game is to start well and take our chances and wait for the crowd to turn against the home team. France are looking more dangerous, but was encouraged by the analysis of their defensive line against Scotland. Without wishing to start another race row, the French defensive line was described on another site “as having more dog legs than a Korean restaurant”. Well it made me laugh.
Disgusting ! Marler shouldn’t even be lacing his boots up. Should be at the beginning of a long ban. Shocking !
It was the right decision. Sanity has prevailed. Move along.
Get the logic behind the Youngs – Care decision. But I actually thought Youngs kicking was excellent on Saturday, really allowed us to control territory and apply pressure. Care’s are almost always too long and not contestable. Youngs’ has also been putting others into space more often than going on his own. Splitting hairs mind.
Youngs’ poor passing cost us a try though and his decision-making as to when to go on his own stifled a few attacks close to the Welsh try line.
For me his passing, speed to the ruck and decision-making just isn’t sharp enough.
Out of interest, beyond Care and Youngs which other scrum halves are there that might have what it takes internationally?
We know about Dickson and Wigglesworth, both of whom don’t cut it for me. Simpson might well do if he gets a chance. But who else is there? Chudley? Braley?
Simpson is the one that really deserves a chance, if he can stop getting injured just at the wrong time. Also Robson at Wasps should be in the reckoning.
High hopes for Ben Spencer at Sarries.
Not really sure about the Ben Spencer hype. He looks a good player but he turns 24 before next season and he is still 3rd choice at club level.
He won’t be third choice next season when De Kock retires. De Kock’ s experience has kept him in, but Spencer is a better all round player. He definitely has the ability, just needs more experience.
Robson looks to be a good option as does the Exeter scrum half although his name escapes me.
Will Chudley is the Exeter 9, good player. I more meant that if Spencer was really going to be someone that was good enough for test match rugby, he’d have been playing for Saracens by now.
Definitely rate Robson – getting a few games now and has the skillset to be a top level 9. Pace, sharp service and kicking is good. Was very surprised he moved to Wasps as I thought the whole point was he wasn’t getting enough gametime with an international 9 (Laidlaw) in front of him. So he went to Wasps and was behind Simpson… Unfortunate injury to Simpson may be lucky for Robson
Simpson and Robson are probably the other two; it’s a shame for England that they are at the same club, but a great thing for Wasps fans!
I still think Youngs and Care are ahead of the rest though. Youngs pass wasn’t great but blame still need to be laid at Fords door for his decision to kick when it just wasn’t on.
I actually think, despite getting caught a couple times, Youngs sniping was important early on. It doesn’t have to be a clean break every time, but he kept the fringes honest which ultimately led to defenders being drawn in to him throughout the half.
Agree with Care starting though as whilst I don’t think he has been as bad as some have suggested, Youngs does look off his best with his passing.
hopefully Care has been working hard on his box kicking. For me the prime requirement is the ability to get the ball away quickly and accurately which is where he is better, Youngs slow and inaccurate passes cause all sorts of problems, make Ford look poor & cost us points. His sniping runs are usually excellent but were not so good against Wales which is why I think the change has occurred.
Agree Cole is fortunate to keep his place but not sure if Brookes work rate is good enough to start.
Enough has been said about Marler’s stupidity.
Agree with that Col and on the 9/10 pairing in particular. I see Youngs/Farrell and Care/Ford as the complementary pairs. Care’s quick delivery gives Ford the space and time to attack the line, which is the facet of the game where he is better than Farrell.
Solid selection, Care for Youngs definitely the right call. I’d also have given Brookes a go, but by the same token no point chucking him in at the deep end. I just hope that Ford remembers how he was playing last year.
Youngs and Care are both capable of producing excellent international level performances, but neither has really convinced this campaign. I really hope one of them (Care has the chance now) to put in the performance that says “I own the 9 shirt”.
Personally I would have started Brookes, even if can only last the pace for 50 this is OK for me. Picking a guy that accounted for 50% of the teams penalties last game concerns me.
No need for any polemics over Marler, it’s not a Clark arm bar offence. My opinion is he should be sitting this game out and I’m very surprised (and actually disappointed) he isn’t.
The fact that Goode is traveling with the squad makes me wonder about Brown’s fitness, or either Ford or Farrell? Besides Ford and Farrell, Goode is the only back up option for fly half cover.
Disagree. They always take two travelling subs don’t they. Goode seems the most obvious as a utility back.
He was released to play for Sarries last week, and no back up for any other positions were retained either. Maybe it’s just because they’re traveling this weekend?
There’s nothing like killing tempo by giving penalties away, a contribution Cole has no problem delivering far too often, Brookes should start.The key is to start with the same tempo as last week and sustain it. We all know how dangerous the French are when they get a whiff.
Personally I think Youngs should start because he led the “tempo team” last week, the same tempo that neutralised Wales.
Neither Youngs nor Care are playing as well as they can and over the season I rate Simpson to be the form 9 by some distance.Will he be fit for Oz anyone know?I am confident Ford and the whole backline would fire a lot better if Joe was there
Why all the hype around young and care.watch the high tempo slick passing of Dave Lewis or game management of will Chudley of exeter who are right up there contending