Six Nations: England pick fly-half Fin Smith to face France
England have confirmed an audacious fly-half switch with Fin Smith starting at 10 and Marcus Smith shifted to full-back against France on Saturday.
Fin Smith will make his first Test start after seven appearances off the bench.
His Northampton team-mate Ollie Sleightholme comes in for the injured Cadan Murley on the wing and brings the Saints contingent in the backline up to four with wing Tommy Freeman and scrum-half Alex Mitchell also starting.
Tom Willis is at number eight in the only other change to the starting XV, as Ben Earl moves to open-side flanker and Ben Curry drops to the bench.
Former captain Jamie George returns from injury and, along with the versatile Elliot Daly, is among the replacements.
Freddie Steward, who started at 15 in last weekend’s defeat by Ireland, drops out of the 23-strong matchday squad.
Saturday’s game starts at 16:45 GMT.
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