England go to France on Saturday needing a win to stave off their worst ever set of Six Nations results.
There is a template for Steve Borthwick’s side to follow: Scotland’s awe-inspiring 50-40 win over the French at Murrayfield last weekend.
The hallmarks of which were, by the account of the BBC’s Tom English, “fight and ambition”. England will need both in Paris or it will be a very long Saturday evening, with a France win making them Six Nations champions for the second year in a row.
England must believe they can win, and do to the French, what Scotland, Ireland and Italy have done to the red rose in this Championship.
Here is the team I’d select for the task…
Back three
Immediately there is a stumbling block. George Furbank would be my full-back to face the French, all things being equal – but they aren’t. The Northampton Saint has been waylaid by injuries all season, and he has played just 89 minutes in two matches since December. We need to know if his fitness is right, then accept the marginal risk of parachuting him in.
Tom Roebuck has three tries in his last four England appearances (Photo: PA)Picking Furbank with Tommy Freeman and Cadan Murley as the wings would give England’s back three a proven try-scoring threat, pace, breakdown ability and a second playmaker at the back. And sit Murley down for a week’s prep of watching what Scotland’s Kyle Steyn did to the French with work-rate and brilliant running lines.
Unfortunately, Freeman is needed in the centres so Tom Roebuck is my right winger.
Centres
Tommy Freeman must wear No 13 as England do not have Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade and Max Ojomoh in their midweek training camp, and I am dealing with those realities.
Seb Atkinson stays in the mix, even though broadly speaking, I’d like England to load up with experience and demand their big dogs show some belated Six Nations bite. But Atkinson has done enough for country and club to be worth another look. Instruct him to carry, not kick aimlessly, and both centres to run hard and straight, not drift.
There again, thinking of the shape of the Scotland midfield that flayed the French, that has taken years to build. England have had Atkinson for just a few months.
Half-backs
Oh blimey, how do you flip a three-sided coin at No 10?
Even as a long-time fan of Marcus Smith, it takes quantum thinking to recommend his restoration. It would need others around him to believe, absolutely, and go with his vision. I just don’t see that being possible in this squad, so Fin Smith gets another go ahead of George Ford, and trust him to decide between kicking only when it’s on, and running or passing.
AT THE 33RD TIME OF ASKING… ITALY HAVE BEATEN ENGLAND! LOOK AT THESE SCENES! pic.twitter.com/KdDRjoFXEB
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) March 7, 2026The gnarliness of Scotland scrum-half Ben White last Saturday, sniping for a score and winding up Antoine Dupont, is best replicated by Raffi Quirke – but again the Sale Sharks man would need parachuting in for a first show in this Six Nations.
Front row
Jamie George ran himself into the ground in England’s cause against Italy. If he is properly up for doing it again, he starts between Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes, with Theo Dan to add pace as bench hooker, and Bevan Rodd and Trevor Davison wound up for the games of their lives as replacement props, as the French scrum must be attacked.
I’d have chanced the young tighthead Billy Sela, but he is injured.
Second row
Scotland spoke before they beat France of “us being us”, come what may. And a team’s identity is as likely to be forged in the engine room as anywhere else.
So Maro Itoje has to stand tall, amid considerable adversity. The England captain has been clipped up on TV shouting “don’t argue with me” at Fin Smith, over a kick at goal in Rome. The fire was fine – now direct it against the French, and stay the right side of the yellow-card line. And yes, Maro, everyone knows that is easier written than done.
“There’s a bit of an explosion there.” Sam Warburton and John Barclay discuss Maro Itoje’s outburst at Fin Smith during England’s defeat to Italy pic.twitter.com/Q4T40Q2PYu
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) March 8, 2026Alex Coles and Ollie Chessum should both start, with a brief to hit contact like a demon, as any sense among the strong French second rows that they have an easy run of their own carrying and mauling will spell big trouble.
Back row
Ben Earl is a non-negotiable. If anything, he has taken too much on himself in this Six Nations, but his support play and energy are unmatched.
A bigger No 6 for balance is my preference, so Chessum wears that jersey and Guy Pepper is given the No 7 role he is quite accustomed to, with Sam Underhill among the subs and the injured Tom Curry out.
Chandler Cunningham-South gets another go on the bench alongside Henry Pollock, with a 6-2 split featuring Marcus Smith as fly-half cover, even though in rugby dreamland England would be laying a platform for 30 minutes of Henry Arundell’s attacking magic.
My England team to face France
15 George Furbank 14 Tom Roebuck 13 Tommy Freeman 12 Seb Atkinson 11 Cadan Murley 10 Fin Smith 9 Raffi Quirke 1 Ellis Genge 2 Jamie George 3 Joe Heyes 4 Maro Itoje (capt) 5 Alex Coles 6 Ollie Chessum 7 Guy Pepper 8 Ben EarlBench
16 Theo Dan 17 Bevan Rodd 18 Trevor Davison 19 Chandler Cunningham-South 20 Sam Underhill 21 Henry Pollock 22 Ben Spencer 23 Marcus SmithHence then, the article about my england xv to topple france in six nations showdown was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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