Chiefs trio set to face the French

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs starlets Henry Slade and Luke Cowan-Dickie are poised to win their first-ever England caps in Saturday's QBE International against France at Twickenham Stadium (8pm, live on Sky Sports HD).

Slade and Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby) will both make their senior debuts in the centre, while Cowan-Dickie - named as back-up hooker for the clash against Les Bleus - is included in a match-day 23 that contains four British & Irish Lions - Alex Corbisiero (Northampton Saints), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens) and Chiefs newcomer Geoff Parling.

Meanwhile, Tom Wood will win his 37th international cap as skipper in a back-row that also contains club-mate Calum Clark, who is also poised to win his first international cap, and Gloucester No.8 Ben Morgan.

For Slade and Cowan-Dickie, however, the chance to represent their country at senior level will be the pinnacle of their careers to date. The duo have previously come through England age groups, most notably helping the Under-20s to lift the Junior World Championships in 2013 alongside fellow Chiefs Jack Nowell, Joel Conlon and Sam Hill.

Since then the duo have not only established themselves as leading players within the Aviva Premiership and Europe, but they have also featured for England against the Barbarians in a non-capped encounter, as well as for the England Saxons.

Cornishman Nowell has not been included for this Saturday's encounter, but remains part of England's training squad ahead of this autumn's Rugby World Cup.

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: "We are really excited to play our first QBE International at Twickenham and to put into practice some what we have been working on for the last six weeks.

"The lads are itching to get out and play a match and these games give us a chance to look at a wide range of players and combinations before we narrow down our selection further.

"Tom is one of several leaders in the squad and he captained the team well in Argentina when Chris Robshaw was rested so this is an ideal opportunity to take the armband at Twickenham against what will be a quality French team.

"I'm delighted for the new caps and for Ben Morgan, who has worked so hard to get back to fitness following his injury."

England (v France, QBE International, Twickenham Stadium, 8pm, Saturday August 15)

15 Alex Goode (Saracens, 17 caps)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)
13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
12 Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
11 Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 13 caps)
10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 29 caps)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 21 caps)
1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 20 caps)
2 Rob Webber (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
3 Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
4 George Kruis (Saracens, 7 caps)
5 Geoff Parling (Exeter Chiefs, 23 caps)
6 Tom Wood (capt, Northampton Saints, 36 caps)
7 Calum Clark (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
8 Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, 27 caps)

Replacements

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
17 Alex Corbisiero (Northampton Saints, 19 caps)
18 David Wilson (Bath Rugby, 41 caps)
19 Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
20 James Haskell (Wasps, 58 caps)
21 Danny Care (Harlequins, 50 caps)
22 Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks, 12 caps)
23 Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby, 20 caps)