Friday 20 March 2015 13:44, UK
France head to Twickenham in the only game of the final weekend of the Six Nations in which both teams are still in with a chance to win the competition - though the odds are stacked in England's favour.
The last time France beat England at Twickenham was eight years ago, during a warm-up match ahead of the 2007 World Cup, but it was in 2005 that they last won a Six Nations match on English turf.
Those fortunes do not look like turning as France started well by beating Scotland in the opening round of competition before falling to Ireland in Dublin and Wales in Paris, though they did restore some pride with a 29-0 win in Rome last weekend.
England, on the other hand, started their campaign with an impressive in Cardiff before dismantling Italy at Twickenham in the second round. Their undoing came at the hands of the Irish, and both sides remain in contention to lift the trophy on Saturday evening.
Wales too have a chance to win the competition, and they will be looking to make their bid with a heavy defeat of an Italian side that will desperately miss captain Sergio Parisse who has been ruled out with an ankle injury.
To England’s advantage, they will know exactly what is needed in terms of points difference when they take the field on Saturday evening.
Geoff Parling has been recalled to the England side by Stuart Lancaster following a short stint away from the squad due to injury. The Leicester lock, who will join Exeter at the end of the season, featured in the second half of England's 25-13 win over Scotland but this week earns a start alongside Courtney Lawes in the only change from last week.
The bulk of the two second rowers will be needed as they face a tough ask against an explosive French pack in London.
"What was France's strength was the set piece against a good Italy pack," Parling said in a Sky Sports interview this week. "So we know we're going to be in for a huge battle and a big test, but our job doesn't change that much.
"We know the importance of Saturday, we know what's on the line. You're going out there to win a Six Nations, how many people get a chance to do that? It's an exciting day."
France meanwhile have made just two changes to their starting line-up for the England showdown. Vincent Debaty comes in for Eddy Ben Arous at prop after the latter suffered an arm injury in Rome, while there is a start for Stade Francais fly-half Jules Plisson.
Plisson partners Sebastien Tillous-Borde in what is the 16th different half-back pairing for France since Philippe Saint-Andre took over as coach of the national side.
England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Jack Nowell, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Joe Marler, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Geoff Parling, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 James Haskell, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 8 Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Nick Easter, 20 Tom Wood, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Billy Twelvetrees.
France: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 1 Vincent Debaty, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 3 Nicolas Mas, 4 Alexandre Flanquart, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 7 Bernard Le Roux, 8 Loann Goujon.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Rabah Slimani, 18 Uini Atonio, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Remi Tales, 23 Mathieu Bastareaud.
