As revealed by Telegraph Sport, Ollie Sleightholme has come in for Cadan Murley on the wing and Tom Willis, also winning a first Test start, will be at No 8 in a back row that also includes Tom Curry and Ben Earl, the latter of whom slides to the openside, with Ben Curry dropping to the bench.
Marcus Smith, fly-half for last weekend’s loss in Ireland, will start in the England No 15 jersey for the first time since the 2023 World Cup play-off victory over Argentina, with Fin Smith replacing his namesake at No 10.
France’s starting back line comprises players solely from Toulouse and Bordeaux, two clubs flying high in the Top 14 and both of which have laid waste to English sides in this season’s Champions Cup.
Steve Borthwick has tasked Marcus Smith with changing the game from full-back after dropping Freddie Steward from his match-day squad to face France on Saturday.
But Borthwick has opted to dispose of Steward’s dependability in favour of Marcus Smith’s “game-changing” abilities at full-back, employed to counter the unique style of France’s long kicking game.
