England head coach Steve Borthwick has ignited discussion with his latest team selection ahead of the forthcoming Six Nations clash against France.
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With just one change from the victorious lineup against Ireland, Elliot Daly is reinstated on the wing.
A notable return sees Manu Tuilagi included in the England matchday 23 for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup Bronze Final in Paris, with Ethan Roots making his comeback to the bench.
As Borthwick finalizes his squad to face France, fans have voiced their opinions on the selection. One supporter expressed empathy for Freddie Steward, suggesting he should have been preferred over Daly, stating: “Feel so sorry for Freddie Steward, should be in over Daly.”
Another fan, while acknowledging Daly’s prowess, questioned if he truly represents the best option currently available, raising alternatives such as Muir and Murley, commenting: “Respect Daly a lot as a player but is he really the best we have at the moment? What about Muir? What about Murley?”
A third commenter critiqued Daly’s performance against Ireland, suggesting he may be targeted by France and advocating for Muir’s inclusion for his attacking prowess and physicality, which could pose a different challenge for the opposition, stating: “Daly! He got smashed against Ireland and went missing thereafter. He’ll be targeted by France who’ll press him to kick back to them, whereas Muir would attack with speed and size a whole different headache for France.”
Borthwick said:
“After such a hard-fought win against Ireland last week, we realise how important it is to back that performance up with similar display in Lyon on Saturday.
“France remain one of the very top sides in the world, and will pose a great challenge for us.
“We’ve had a great preparation so far this week and there is a genuine sense of anticipation and determination around the camp as we head to what will be an exciting final weekend.”
When is the France versus England match? England will face France this Saturday, March 16th, with the game scheduled to kick off at 8:00 pm (GMT). This match follows Ireland’s clash with Scotland at 4:45 pm, allowing England to understand the stakes before their game. Wales will play against Italy in the earlier kick-off on Saturday at 2:15 pm.
Where will the France versus England match take place? The match will be held at Groupama Stadium in Lyon. The French team has yet to secure a victory in their home games, suffering a defeat to Ireland in Marseille and being held to a draw by Italy in Lille.
How can I watch the France versus England match on TV? The match will be televised live on ITV.
Who will be the referee? The referee for the match will be Angus Gardner from Australia.
Super computer prediction: France 29-15 England
England team to play France:
15. George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 8 caps)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 61 caps)
12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 23 caps)
11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 68 caps)
10. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 95 caps) – vice captain
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 14 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 61 caps) – vice captain
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 89 caps) – captain
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 111 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 80 caps) – vice captain
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 11 caps)
6. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 22 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 34 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 29 caps)
Replacements: 16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 11 caps) 17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 92 caps) 18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 37 caps) 19. Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs, 3 caps) 20. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 16 caps) 21. Danny Care (Harlequins, 100 caps) 22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 31 caps) 23. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 59 caps)
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How England can beat Ireland to the 2024 Six Nations title this weekend
In a tense and gripping development, the pursuit of the Six Nations title continues to be fiercely contested, with Ireland, England, and Scotland all firmly in the running.
Despite Ireland holding the advantage, thanks to their bonus points, the competition is far from decided, leaving room for various outcomes among the trio.
Next Saturday, all eyes will be on Dublin as Ireland hosts Scotland at 4:45 pm, while England faces off against France in a high-stakes clash kicking off at 8:00 pm.
Stay tuned for the permutations of Super Saturday below…
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How Ireland Might Secure the Championship Despite a Loss
Even if Ireland falls to Scotland, there’s still a path to the Championship. If they manage to secure a losing bonus point along with a try bonus point, they’ll reach 18 points, making it impossible for any other team to surpass them.
Alternatively, if Ireland loses to Scotland but England fails to secure a win against France, Ireland would be on at least 16 points, with England only able to reach 14 points with a draw.
Even with just one bonus point from their match against Scotland and England winning in France without a bonus point, Ireland would still edge ahead with 17 points, leaving England on 16. This scenario would mark a historic first for a team not winning the most games in the Six Nations yet clinching the championship.
