Starter: Manu Tuilagi
England coach Stuart Lancaster has made three changes to play France, with Manu Tuilagi, Dylan Hartley and Courtney Lawes returning.
Tuilagi is reunited with Brad Barritt in the centres with Billy Twelvetrees dropping to the bench. Hartley replaced Tom Youngs at hooker, whilst Lawes swaps in for James Haskell who is on the bench.
"We thought long and hard about changing a winning team which did so well against Ireland," said Lancaster.
"But we believe that Dylan, Courtney and Manu are ready for the opportunity and allow us to vary our play, while the bench will add impact and energy as the game unfolds in the second half.
"The players are really looking forward to getting back to Twickenham; the atmosphere in the stadium is fantastic and hopefully the crowd can get behind us in what is sure to be a great challenge against a motivated and physical French team."
England: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Mike Brown, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Tom Wood, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 David Wilson, 18 Mako Vunipola, 19 Thomas Waldrom, 20 James Haskell, 21 Danny Care, 22 Toby Flood, 23 Billy Twelvetrees.
Kick-off: 17:00
Venue: Twickenham
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Comments
Coshie78 says...
Coombs01...
I pity the fool, only a prop forward would make such an obvious attempt to spark a reaction...
I refuse to take the bait, entering into a battle of wits with front row forwards is testament to bullying and I hate bullies!
Posted 14:22 22nd February 2013
Coombs01 says...
Employ Coshie? He cant even settle a structure on time! At the start of the 6 nations he was saying that Ireland would win. He loves Ireland
Posted 12:26 22nd February 2013
new_j4a says...
@Coshie78, that's a fine rugby brain you have....your last post was very insightful and thought provoking @PR Ed, employ this man please.
Posted 22:27 21st February 2013
Chubbylugs says...
Hartley is there to scrummage, lawes there to carry and both add a bit of physicality that youngs and Haskell lack. Differen qualities for different games. Good selection
I do wish people would stop harping in about these players discipline. Hartley isn't everyone's cup of tea, but he's done probably 2 stupid bits of foul play in his career and people won't let it go. Lawes on the other hand has been banned for one incident in the World Cup. This does not make them liabilities, if anything the perceived targets make the opposition lose focus if they try winding them up
Posted 21:29 21st February 2013
tellitlikeitis says...
lawes is crap., Crazy decision by lancaster. Slow in the lose, silly, and a yellow card liability. Lancaster has been lucky so far but stupid selections like that are tempting fate
Posted 20:41 21st February 2013
fatdragon says...
I hope Lawes will excel well in the 6 jersey. Hope to see him flourish in a lions jersey as a loose forward
Posted 18:42 21st February 2013
gleek says...
Basteraud V Manu.....Le Crunch indeed!
Posted 15:38 21st February 2013
pierredelot1 says...
Pity about not starting with 12Trees but you can understand it. I just hope he gets an early rather than a token chance. Not suprised about Hartley, Youngs lineout work last time out was not great and England need to compete. Lawes great choice over Haskell who flatters to deceive at times and does not have the pace or ball carrying ability. The battle will be in the front five. England appear more solid especially in the second row and at two. France have not yet found a replacement for Servat. I just feel that France will struggle to handle all the English ball carriers, especially if their front five aren't prepared to put in some hard graft in open play. Huget at fullback is also not the greatest defender and sensible box kicking could really unsettle him. But Fofana is a great player and should combine well with Basteaureaud, but do they want to spend all day trying to batter their way past Manu and Barritt. Not a lot of change to be had there.
Posted 15:16 21st February 2013
Coshie78 says...
France have the best lineout stats so far, both on their own and opposition throw. French scrum very good, Marler struggles less with Hartley, so I believe Hartley pick justified...
If he was as big a liability as everyone makes out Lancaster wouldn't pick him, have to trust his judgement there...
In my opinon Haskell reasoning is more of an excuse to avoid questions from the press around why he has been dropped... have no issue with that, sensationalist press coverage could upset mood in the camp...
For me, Lawes seems to be a "horses for courses" selection..
France are by far the biggest ball carrying threat we have faced and Lawes is one of the most dynamic tacklers in the game...
Haskell's breakdown stats are actually pretty good but Lawes more effective carrying ball into set defenses...
Both tip the balance in favour of Lawes, France rarely challenge at the breakdown prefering to have numbers in defense...
Hence them having the best disciplinary record so far...
With the accuracy of Farrell's kicking I can't see that changing...
Also I seriously doubt Haskell would be on the bench unless fit for 80 mins...
I seriously hope he is because an injury in 2nd or back row should see him on rather than Wladrom in my opinion...
Billy V hit the fitness please!!!!
France's spread defense also a reason to be more direct, Tuilagi edging Twelvetrees there...
Against the Scottish the wide spaces were found by passing to runners in the deep once the inside runners were held...
France will often have a numerical advantage in defense so need to break through and hit close to the ruck with quick ball in order to create space out wide...
Posted 15:06 21st February 2013
GCP_jones says...
@rugby_rockstar....
Totally agree with about Haskell if he had Brains he'd be dangerous, along with Hartley they represent a throwback to England's Bish-Bosh era, and seem to go against what Lancaster is trying to achieve with the team.
Lawes's selection at 6 really interests me. when you look at the other options England will have in the back-row say Tom Croft, Steffan Armitage and Billy Vunipola, (along with the likes of Christian Wade), there's no argument that England are going in the right direction, scary really.
Really looking forward to watching the game now that France seem to be finally taking the compettion seriously.
Posted 14:24 21st February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Sticking to my comment: you can only have one of Hartley Haskell Lawes start for disciplinary reasons. Our discipline has been more of a winning factor than lineout. Lawes anyhow gives an extra lineout option. Tom Youngs should have had another chance as he delivered v ABs although after first half v Ireland he should have come off. Hartley bench. Lawes: you don't have to kill them. How many times have your ruthless tackles ended up with you injured or yellowed vs opponent being flattened? It's not a good trade off. And no he's not Englands Lydiate. That guy takes ankles and can dive three metres 1 inch off the ground! Lawes is more of a thighs / ribs man. Still not convinced by Goode keeping Brown/Foden combo out next campaign. 36 on bench: look forward to Manu moving to wing 36 on at 12, BB 13 if we get a hold on the game. Dropping Goode and pushing Brown to 15. Remember Manus wingers try vs French? How could you forget!
Posted 14:12 21st February 2013
NHsaints says...
Definitely the right call to pull Tuilagi back in and even moreso with Hartley - a hooker is no use if he can't hit lineouts and can't keep his bind in the scrum, two things hartley does excellently and two things youngs didn't do last week (to be fair to him he's still fairly inexperienced at hooker so long term he'll probably be our starting 2 unless hartley sorts out his discipline). Lawes is never a bad call and every Northampton supporter knows he's a superb a six as he is a second row. I see him taking back his jersey from Launchbury in not too long. Long term our inside centre would appear to be twelvetrees but we'll see as Daley, Allen, Smith, Barritt ect are all very good midfield options.
Posted 13:47 21st February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
I really don't know what the fuss is about with haskell. where did this monicker "The Brand" come from? its apt if we're talking hype, because when does he ever deliver on the pitch??? I remember Andy robinson picking the entire wasps back row for a game in cardiff and they were absolutley destroyed by wales. Haskell was bleedin' awful for the Highlanders in last season's super rugby comp, if the guy gets over the gainline then it'll be by less than a meter and he'll probably drop the ball in the process, he can't ruck to save his life. What is the point of james bleedin haskell? he is the english gym monkey rugby player stereotype, a throw back to the bad old days of clueless dumb ass rugby employed by england from 2004 to 2012. We won't lose anything with Lawes at 6. we're missing Morgan at 8 becasue he allows tom wood to play on the side of the scrum where he belongs, but as far as Haskell goes, no great loss. Lawes will tackle like a demon and run faster if he gets the ball in space and off load more. the one problem with Lawes is that he's just as likely to hurt himself as the opposition. Something he needs to address if he expects to have a long career in rugby. He just reminds me of harry ellis and he's going the same way as well. Look after yourself for your own good Courtney, sort out your tackling technique.
Posted 13:43 21st February 2013
butl says...
You wouldn't want to pick a fight with that lot would you...........I hope that the French decide to!
Posted 13:29 21st February 2013
heart_of_oak says...
The English back row looks formidable. I desperately hope Courtney doesn't get sin binned because he's just so big and quick and his tackling is ferocious. To have a guy this big, yet so fast, at wing forward is a good position to be in. But I hope his style of play is referred as being fair but hard.
Hartley though is another matter. He's a downright liability. I think if I were Lancaster, I'd make it clear that any disciplinary infringements would spell the end of his career. That's how fed up I am with his inability to keep calm.
Other possible areas of concern with this selection are :
1. Waldrom - If Wood gets injured, I'd rather see Courtney move to the 2nd row and Launchberry to no.8. Lets face it, if Waldrom was good enough he'd start. Someone told me on this site that Launchberry has played in the number 8 position for many years.
2. Haskell - if he wasn't well and couldn't train, will he be 100% match fit ?
3. Goode at full back. I'd rather have seen Brown move to FB and you know who on the wing.
Posted 13:23 21st February 2013
JamieTheProp says...
I do like Youngs - but Hartley is (by far) the superior scrummager - Youngs has a tendancy to loose his bind with Marler under pressure - Hartley just won't do that!
As long as Lawes can behave himself (and Hartley too I guess) these are good selections - they are hungry and fighting for starting positions so should play out of their skins (or warm the sin bin)!
I too think that care is playing very well and hse is very much the kind of scrum half I like but I don't think you can drop Youngs the way he is playing.
Tuilagi is also the right choice I think - I can't see this being a game of guile and skill - I can see it being a show of strength - and he certainly delivers on that score.
I can't wait for Saturday - should be a great game! The 6 Nations is just brilliant!
Posted 12:34 21st February 2013
kybone says...
We have a really good nucleus of players developing right now so i don't mind the odd tweak here and there to see how we go. I still think in the long run Haskell, Waldrum, and Flood should be replaced in the squad. Lets hope that Burns and Billy Vunipola come in when they're fit. Then when Morgan and Foden are back we'll have some real options, and no room for any non-performing players.
Posted 12:21 21st February 2013
Coshie78 says...
If England can play at tempo they'll be good for the win...
The French pack is big and powerful but if England can offload, blast through the ruck and get behind the French will run out of steam...
Picking up the second wave runners of the French in attack will also be crucial. Bastareaud, Fofana and Huget great at creating space for others. Need to defend intelligently... That is where Barritt will make the difference in my opinion. Huge opportunity for him to receive the credit he deserves.
Be ready for a box kick bombardment from Parra, especially on Benjamin Fall's wing, his kick chase has been sensational so far...
I see England out working and making less errors then the French pulling away from a narrow margin to a 12 point win in the last 10 mins...
Posted 12:20 21st February 2013
Jediboy says...
I too am really excited about this game. The bench still looks pretty good and this is a pretty strong team.
Lawes is class and should perform at 6 as its not new to him. I just wish he would carry better!
Hartley is a more reliable 2, but agree his discipline is a concern. He should really have sorted that side of his game by now. It's no good playing at this level with 14 men.
Overall I like the team, should be a good but tough game against the French.
Posted 12:17 21st February 2013
Frooschman says...
I thought I read somewhere that Haskell had been ill this week which is possibly why Lawes starts at six. Of course his inclusion also provides another option at the lineout but with four targets already included I doubt that's the main reason. Happy to see Hartley back.
Posted 12:15 21st February 2013