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Fin Smith starts at fly-half for England against France in Six Nations / Photo: © AFP/File
Fin Smith starts at fly-half for England against France in Six Nations
Fin Smith and Marcus Smith are both in England's backline for Saturday's Six Nations clash against France at Twickenham, with Fin Smith starting at fly-half for the first time.
England coach Steve Borthwick, whose side were beaten 27-22 by champions Ireland last week, has moved Marcus Smith to full-back in order to accommodate 22-year-old fly-half Fin Smith at No 10.
That means Fin Smith will be alongside Alex Mitchell, his half-back partner at Northampton, with Freddie Steward, England's full-back in their tournament opener in Dublin, no longer in the matchday 23.
Ollie Sleightholme, another Northampton back, returns on the wing in place of the injured Cadan Murley, with Saracens star Tom Willis brought in to add heft to the back row against a France side that thrashed Wales 43-0 last week.
England (15-1):
Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Ollie Sleightholme; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Tom Willis, Ben Earl, Tom Curry; George Martin, Maro Itoje (capt); Will Stuart, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge
Replacements: Jamie George, Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Curry, Harry Randall, Elliot Daly
Coach: Steve Borthwick (ENG)
G.Miller--SFF
