England name unchanged 23 for France

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England Head coach Stuart Lancaster has named an unchanged 23-man squad for Saturday's Six Nations match against France.

England Head coach Stuart Lancaster has named an unchanged 23-man squad for Saturday's Six Nations match against France.

Lancaster has sent 12 players back their clubs this evening, including Gloucester number eight Ben Morgan, who has not yet recovered from the ankle injury sustained in the tournament opener against Scotland.

Lancaster said there were some tough selection calls, but the players who achieved a first competitive win in Ireland since 2003 deserved the chance to continue their unbeaten start to the tournament.

“We've had 30 plus guys pushing hard for selection this week, which is what we want,” he said.

“We had to make some close calls but the team did very well in Ireland so we've gone with the same squad against France.

“We are looking forward to getting back to Twickenham against what I am sure will be a highly motivated French team.”

England squad to face France:

Backs: Chris Ashton (Saracens), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester), Alex Goode (Saracens), David Strettle (Saracens), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Ben Youngs (Leicester).

Forwards: Dan Cole (Leicester), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), James Haskell (Wasps), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Geoff Parling (Leicester), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Billy Vunipola (Wasps), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester), David Wilson (Bath), Tom Wood (Northampton), Tom Youngs (Leicester).