Six Nations 2025: England pick Marcus Smith and Fin Smith as Tom Willis and Ollie Sleightholme come in against France

Steve Borthwick's England host France at Twickenham in Six Nations Round Two following 27-22 loss to Ireland in Dublin last week; fly-half Fin Smith, No 8 Tom Willis and wing Ollie Sleightholme start, with Marcus Smith at full-back; Ben Curry drops to bench, Freddie Steward out of squad

By Michael Cantillon

Fin Smith says he will be honoured to wear the No 10 shirt when he lines up for England against France at Twickenham on Saturday

England have made three changes to their side for Saturday's Six Nations Round Two clash at home to France, with Fin Smith, Tom Willis and Ollie Sleightholme coming in to start. 

The addition of Northampton fly-half Fin Smith sees Marcus Smith switch to full-back as England head coach Steve Borthwick seeks a dual playmaking axis against Les Bleus.

Saracens back-row Willis is brought in to start at No 8, with Ben Earl shifting to openside and Ben Curry dropping down to the bench. The latter's twin, Tom Curry, keeps his place at blindside flanker.

The third change sees Sleightholme replace Cadan Murley on the left wing, with last week's try scorer ruled out due to a foot injury.

There are two further changes to the bench as hooker Jamie George and utility back Elliot Daly return to the squad. Full-back Freddie Steward is dropped entirely.

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Image: Tom Willis has come in to start at No 8, shifting Ben Earl to openside

The rest of the starting side remains the same from last week's 27-22 defeat to defending champions Ireland in Dublin.

Tommy Freeman links up with Marcus Smith and Sleightholme to form the back-three, while the centre partnership remains as Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade.

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Alex Mitchell starts at scrum-half, while the front-row is Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Will Stuart. Captain Maro Itoje and George Martin form the second row.

"England versus France is an incredible fixture to be involved in," Borthwick said.

"We're looking forward to being back at Allianz Stadium Twickenham in front of our home supporters, for what I am sure will be a great game of rugby."

England: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 5 George Martin, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Tom Willis.

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Ben Curry, 22 Harry Randall, 23 Elliot Daly.

Sky Sports News speak to England captain Maro Itoje ahead of their Six Nations clash with favourites France

Fin Smith: It's a dream to wear 10 for England; Kids watched cartoons, I watched Wilkinson

Fin Smith to Sky Sports at Pennyhill Park...

"I'm excited, it's any young boy's dream to wear the 10 shirt for England. I grew up watching some of the greats, Jonny [Wilkinson], Faz [Owen Farrell], so to be told I'm going to be wearing that shirt this weekend was pretty surreal

"I'm raring to go. I've said it before but I think a lot of five, six-year-olds grew up watching cartoons and whatnot, I'd have Jonny's best moments on tape watching those back, which is a bit weird but I loved him. I'm a massive fan.

"Some of his kicking and defensive bits were something I really looked up to growing up.

Image: England head coach Steve Borthwick has selected both Marcus Smith (left) and Fin Smith to start together against France

"Monday morning, Steve [Borthwick] told me. His words to me were: 'you've not got a very good poker face,' because I was pretty bad at hiding my emotions after. I was absolutely delighted and couldn't wait to tell my family afterwards.

"He just wants to see me bring my game, not overthink it too much. Trust my instincts, go out there, enjoy myself, and hopefully the result and performance will take care of itself. He's been great this week.

"It's great [having Marcus Smith at full-back]. It's going to be like having a second 10 on the pitch. Hopefully he's going to be my eyes and ears for a lot of the play, directing it, helping me see space and move the ball to space.

"I'm super excited to have a player of his quality out there with me and hopefully that takes a bit of weight off my shoulders."

Fin Smith said 'it's a dream' ahead of his first Test start at fly-half for England against France in the Six Nations

Jalibert replaces suspended Ntamack as Penaud returns for France

France's Matthieu Jalibert will start at fly-half against England in place of the suspended Romain Ntamack as head coach Fabien Galthie makes two changes from the team that beat Wales in the opening game.

Jalibert asked to be sent back to his Bordeaux club when he found out he was second in the pecking order at fly-half during last November's autumn series but Galthie did not hold it against the 26-year-old.

"There is no power struggle with the player. The power struggle is on the field, for us," Galthie told a press conference.

Image: Matthieu Jalibert (right) will start alongside Antoine Dupont for France at Twickenham

Ntamack picked up a yellow card for a shoulder-to-head tackle on Ben Thomas late in France's 43-0 drubbing of Wales in their opening Six Nations fixture on Friday, which was upgraded to a red card following a review.

Damian Penaud, who missed the Wales game with a toe injury, will start on the wing in place of 20-year-old Theo Attissogbe.

Starting XV: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (c); 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Alexandre Roumat, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 6 Francois Cros, 7 Paul Boudehent, 8 Gregory Alldritt.

Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Mickel Guillard, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Emilien Gailleton.

Six Nations fixtures: Round Two

Saturday February 8

Italy vs Wales (2.15pm)
England vs France (4.45pm)

Sunday February 9

Scotland vs Ireland (3pm)

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