England men’s head coach Eddie Jones has named his side to play France in their Guinness Six Nations opener in Paris.
Owen Farrell is named at inside centre and will captain the side with 675 caps in the starting XV for the game in Paris on Sunday (KO 3pm, UK time, live on BBC)..
George Ford starts inside Farrell at fly half with Manu Tuilagi at outside centre. Ben Youngs will play his 96th Test at scrum half.null
George Furbank will make his England debut at fullback with Elliot Daly named on the left wing and Jonny May on the right following Anthony Watson’s late unavailability due to injury.
Tom Curry is selected as number eight with Sam Underhill at openside flanker and Courtney Lawes at blindside flanker.
Charlie Ewels will partner Maro Itoje in the second row with Jamie George, Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler making up England’s front row.
Prop Will Stuart is included as a finisher and the second uncapped player in the match day 23.
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Jones, heading into his fifth Guinness Six Nations as England men’s head coach, said: “It has been a massively exciting week for us. It is the start of the Guinness Six Nations, the best rugby tournament in the world. We have had a great preparation in Portugal with a quality training week this week.
“We have really worried about ourselves, getting ourselves right. We have picked a strong forward pack which is part of the England way and an exciting backline with young George Furbank playing his first Test at fullback.
“France can expect absolute brutality from England, we are going to go out there to make sure they understand what Test rugby is.It is about being brutal, it is about being physical and it is about dominating the set piece.”
England team to play France:
15 George Furbank (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
14 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps)
13 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 40 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 79 caps) C
11 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 39 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 65 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 95 caps)
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 68 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 45 caps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 31 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 34 caps)
5 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 81 caps)
7 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)
8 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 19 caps)
Finishers
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 21 caps)
17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 14 caps)
18 Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
19 George Kruis (Saracens, 41 caps)
20 Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
21 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 9 caps)
22 Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap)