Chris Ashton

England v France: Team line-ups, kick-off time, key quotes, predictions, odds and where to watch on TV

By Sporting Life

14:57 · SUN February 10, 2019

Our guide to Sunday's Guinness Six Nations clash between England and France at Twickenham includes team news, predictions, statistics and more.

England started their Six Nations campaign with a fine victory in Dublin, and will look to supplement their grand slam ambitions by beating the French.

It was what some might call a typical France display which marked the start of the Six Nations, as they surrendered a big half-time lead in defeat to Wales. Which side will turn up at Twickenham?

What time is kick off & what channel is it on?

The match, which takes place at Twickenham, London, will start at 1500 GMT on Sunday February 10 and will be screened live on ITV 1.

England v France: Team news

England have sprung a surprise by selecting Chris Ashton in place of Jack Nowell for Sunday's Guinness Six Nations clash with France at Twickenham.

Nowell impressed in the 32-20 victory over Ireland in Dublin but has lost his spot on the right wing to Ashton, the Top 14 record try-scorer who makes his first Championship start since 2013.

The second change to the starting XV sees Courtney Lawes partner George Kruis at lock after Maro Itoje was struck down by a knee injury at the Aviva Stadium. Filling the vacancy on the bench created by Lawes' promotion is Joe Launchbury.

Itoje was expected to be missing until the final rounds of the tournament but Jones has revealed he might be back sooner than expected from his grade two medial

Apart from the presence of Nowell and Launchbury, there are two more changes to the bench in the shape of props Dan Cole and Ben Moon who have displaced Harry Williams and Ellis Genge. Neither flanker Brad Shields nor wing Joe Cokanasiga have made the matchday 23 despite recovering from respective side and knee injuries.

Toulon centre Mathieu Bastareaud has been recalled to the France side. The experienced defensive lynchpin was left out of the side that suffered a 24-19 defeat to Wales in Paris last Friday, despite Les Bleus leading 16-0 at the interval.

Bastareaud's return is one of six changes to the side by head coach Jacques Brunel. Geoffrey Doumayrou returns in the centres, Yacouba Camara in the third row, with lock Felix Lambey and prop Demba Bamba also starting at Twickenham.

Teams:

England: E Daly (Wasps); C Ashton (Sale Sharks), H Slade (Exeter Chiefs), M Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), J May (Leicester Tigers); O Farrell (Saracens, capt), B Youngs (Leicester Tigers); M Vunipola (Saracens), J George (Saracens), K Sinckler (Harlequins), C Lawes (Northampton Saints), G Kruis (Saracens), M Wilson (Newcastle Falcons), T Curry (Sale Sharks), B Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), B Moon (Exeter Chiefs), D Cole (Leicester Tigers), J Launchbury (Wasps), N Hughes (Wasps), D Robson (Wasps), G Ford (Leicester Tigers), J Nowell (Exeter Chiefs).

France: Y Huget (Toulouse); D Penaud (Clermont Auvergne), M Bastareaud (Toulon), G Doumayrou (La Rochelle), G Fickou (Stade Francais); C Lopez (Clermont Auvergne), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne); J Poirot (Bordeaux-Begles), G Guirado (Toulon, capt), D Bamba (Brive), S Vahaamahina (Clermont Auvergne), F Lambey (Lyon), Y Camara (Montpellier), A Iturria (Clermont Auvergne), L Picamoles (Montpellier).

Replacements: P Bougarit (La Rochelle), D Priso (La Rochelle), D Aldegheri (Toulouse), P Willemse (Montpellier), G Alldritt (La Rochelle), A Dupont (Toulouse), R Ntamack (Toulouse), T Ramos (Toulouse).

England v France: Odds & advice

England are 12-point handicap favourites and 1/5 to win the match.

France can be backed at 100/30 with Sky Bet, who make them 10/11 on the handicap.

Click here to check out all Sky Bet's England v France odds

Tony Calvin's verdict...

"This French side has a lot more balance to it, and I think they are a very decent bet getting a 14-point start at evens (general), especially with rain forecast at Twickenham on Sunday afternoon."

Click here to read Tony's full preview

England v France: Key quotes

England head coach Eddie Jones: "We have gone for Chris Ashton on the wing because we think he might sneak us a try early in the game.

"We've just got a gut feeling he'll be right for the start and Jack will be right for the end.

"Jack was absolutely outstanding for us against Ireland, absolutely outstanding, so it's just a different role for him this time.

"He's got a great work-rate and can fill a number of positions. At the end of the game that work-rate is going to be important.

"They [France] are a team full of talent. They rely a lot on individual talents, but they've got guys that can break the game open," Jones said.

"We just have to be very well organised and absolutely brutal in our defence. All we worry about is ourselves, getting ourselves organised.

"We've had a good look at France and what they can bring to the table, but we just have to be organised in defence and have that relentless attitude to get after them.

"After Dublin we have had to refocus and reset. Players have been very good and certainly by Sunday we'll be at our best."

France head coach Jacques Brunel: "England stays true to herself. We know they always impose their power.

"Last year we won shortly after suffering ourselves. Then they had a difficult phase that lasted three to four months. Since then they have found their form, as the match against Ireland attests.

"I was very impressed with their performance. They dominated most of the game by putting constant pressure on Ireland. In my eyes, it was an English demonstration.

"I reported last week that Mathieu [Bastareaud] remained an important option for us. Today, it seems appropriate to make it permanent against England.

"And we are waiting for him to make a significant impact for the team as we are looking for physical density to face the power of the English midfield, with a player like Manu Tuilagi. Mathieu can have an interesting impact."

England v France: Last four meetings

2018: France 22-16 England, Paris

2017: England 19-16 France, London

2016: England 31-21 France, Paris

2015: France 25-20 England, Paris

Six Nations fixtures and results

Round One (February 1-2)

France 19-24 Wales
Click here for match report
Scotland 33-20 Italy
Click here for match report
Ireland 20-32 England
Click here for match report

Round Two (February 9-10)

Scotland v Ireland, Saturday February 9, 1415 GMT, BT Murrayfield, BBC 1
Italy v Wales, Saturday February 9, 1645 GMT, Stadio Olimpico, ITV & S4C
England v France Sunday February 10, 1500 GMT, Twickenham, ITV 1

Round Three (February 23-24)

France v Scotland, Saturday February 23, 1415 GMT, Stade de France, BBC 1
Wales v England, Saturday February 23 , 1645 GMT, Principality Stadium, BBC 1 & S4C
Italy v Ireland, Sunday February 24, 1500 GMT, Stadio Olimpico, ITV 1

Round Four (March 9-10)