Fin Smith to start at outhalf for England as Matthieu Jalibert swaps in for France

Jalibert replaces Romain Ntamack following his three-week suspension

England's Fin Smith after their 27-22 loss against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in the opening round of the 2025 Six Nations last Saturday. Photograph: Dan Mullan/RFU via Getty Images
England's Fin Smith after their 27-22 loss against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in the opening round of the 2025 Six Nations last Saturday. Photograph: Dan Mullan/RFU via Getty Images

Marcus Smith will start at fullback for England in their Six Nations fixture against France on Saturday (kick-off 4.45pm), making room for Fin Smith to start at outhalf.

The latter Smith (22) will make his first appearance in the number 10 jersey after winning all seven of his caps as a replacement.

England head coach Steve Borthwick has made five changes, two of them positional, for their second round fixture at Twickenham following a five-point loss to Ireland at the Aviva Stadium last weekend.

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Ollie Sleightholme returns to the left wing after Cadan Murley was ruled out by a foot injury sustained during the game in Dublin which could end his tournament.

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Tom Willis makes his first start at number eight as part of a backrow reshuffle that sees Ben Earl move to openside and Ben Curry drop to a bench bolstered by the return of Jamie George and Elliot Daly.

Earlier, France head coach Fabien Galthie confirmed Matthieu Jalibert will start at outhalf in place of the suspended Romain Ntamack; one of two changes from the team that beat Wales in their opening game last Friday.

Ntamack picked up a yellow card for a shoulder-to-head tackle on Ben Thomas late in France’s 43-0 first round drubbing of Wales, which was upgraded to a red card following a review.

The disciplinary committee determined that the mid-range entry point of six weeks/matches was appropriate but reduced it to three after the player accepted he committed an act of foul play, along with Ntamack’s exemplary disciplinary record.

Damian Penaud, who missed the Wales game with a toe injury, will start on the wing.

ENGLAND: M Smith; T Freeman, O Lawrence, H Slade, O Sleightholme; F Smith, A Mitchell; E Genge, L Cowan-Dickie, W Stuart; M Itoje (capt), G Martin; T Curry, B Earl, T Willis.

Replacements: J George, F Baxter, J Heyes, O Chessum, C Cunningham-South, B Curry, H Randall, E Daly.

FRANCE: T Ramos; D Penaud, P Barassi, Y Moefana, L Bielle-Biarrey; M Jalibert, A Dupont (capt); J Baptiste Gros, P Mauvaka, U Atonio; A Roumat, E Meafou; F Cros, P Boudehent, G Alldritt.

Replacements: J Marchand, C Baille, G Colombe, H Auradou, M Guillard, O Jegou, N Le Garrec, E Gailleton.