Chiefs duo on bench for England

By Mark Stevens
31/1/20

Exeter Chiefs duo Luke Cowan-Dickie and Ollie Devoto have been named on the bench ahead of England's Guinness Six Nations opener against France in Paris on Sunday (3pm).

The two have been rewarded for their fine form this season, but there is no place for club-mate Harry Williams, who was released from the training squad on Thursday by head coach Eddie Jones.

Owen Farrell is named at inside centre and will captain the side with 675 caps in the starting XV. George Ford starts inside Farrell at fly half with Manu Tuilagi at outside centre. Ben Youngs will play his 96th Test at scrum half.

George Furbank will make his England debut at full-back with Elliot Daly named on the left wing and Jonny May on the right following Anthony Watson’s late unavailability due to injury.

Tom Curry is selected as No.8 with Sam Underhill at openside flanker and Courtney Lawes at blindside flanker. Charlie Ewels will partner Maro Itoje in the second row with Jamie George, Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler making up England’s front row.

Jones, heading into his fifth Six Nations campaign as coach, said: “It has been a massively exciting week for us. It is the start of the Guinness Six Nations, the best rugby tournament in the world. We have had a great preparation in Portugal with a quality training week this week.

“We have really worried about ourselves, getting ourselves right. We have picked a strong forward pack which is part of the England way and an exciting backline with young George Furbank playing his first Test at fullback.

“France can expect absolute brutality from England, we are going to go out there to make sure they understand what Test rugby is.It is about being brutal, it is about being physical and it is about dominating the set piece.”

England last played France in the 2019 edition of the tournament, beating Les Bleus 44-8 at Twickenham Stadium. Under Jones, England have won two of the last four Guinness Six Nations including a Grand Slam in 2016.

England team to face France

15 George Furbank (Northampton Saints, uncapped)

14 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps)

13 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 40 caps)

12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, capt 79 caps)

11 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 39 caps)

10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 65 caps)

9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 95 caps)

1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 68 caps)

2 Jamie George (Saracens, 45 caps)

3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 31 caps)

4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 34 caps)

5 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)

6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 81 caps)

7 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)

8 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 19 caps)

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 21 caps)

17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 14 caps)

18 Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, uncapped)

19 George Kruis (Saracens, 41 caps)

20 Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)

21 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 9 caps)

22 Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap)

23 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 47 caps)