Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
As they try to avoid their worst Six Nations appearance, England only made one shift to France.
Steve Borthwick has remained committed to the revised backline, which failed to work in the 23-18 fight by Italy in Rome. Fin Smith will continue playing fly-half for Saturday’s trip to Paris.
Instead of putting Sam Underhill on the couch for the Championship’s climax, Borthwick has experimented with his back row by moving Guy Pepper to openside and Ollie Chessum to the sideswipe flanker.
Tom Curry suffered a season-ending leg injuries during the warm-up, but Underhill was thrust into the starting XV at the Stadio Olimpico. However, in France, he may play in his place as a substitute as part of a six-two pairing between forward and tails.
Borthwick strengthens England’s line-up by starting Chessum and gives his bottle more room to maneuver against France’s formidable forth.
Fourteen personnel adjustments and three positional adjustments were made for Italy, but England’s ancient primary defeat by the Azzurri in 33 matches failed to have the desired impact.
The Rugby Football Union gave Borthwick a ballot of constrained confidence.
Borthwick was not mentioned until the 2027 World Cup, when his lease expires, in Chief Executive Bill Sweeney’s statement, otherwise suggesting he have the summertime tour to keep his job.
If England loses to France, they will have won the tournament once, winning against Wales in the opening match. This will be their worst Six Governments efficiency.
” It’s a great challenge facing a very powerful France side under the lighting in Paris,” Borthwick said.
” We’re looking forward to the occasion because England versus France is one of the greatest rivalries in international rugby.”
FRANCE ( V ) ENGLAND
Daly, Roebuck, Freeman, Atkinson, Freeman, Atkinson, Murley, F Smith, Spencer, Genge, George, Heyes, Itoje ( capt ), Coles, Chessum, Pepper, Earl, and others.
Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Cunningham-South, Underhill, Pollock, van Poortvliet, and M Smith are the alternatives.
