Eddie Jones sends the A-Team into battle
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Eddie Jones has named his England team to face France in the Final of the Nations Cup tournament this weekend.
England will host France at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday.
In the only change to the team that beat Wales at Parc y Scarlets last weekend, Anthony Watson comes in at right wing.
Jonny May continues at left wing and Elliot Daly is at fullback.
Captain Owen Farrell stays at inside centre and Henry Slade at outside centre, while George Ford is at flyhalf and Ben Youngs at scrumhalf.
England’s unchanged forward pack sees Mako Vunipola (loosehead prop), Kyle Sinckler (tighthead prop) and Jamie George (hooker) in the front row.
The tight five is completed with Maro Itoje and Joe Launchbury.
Tom Curry (blindside) and Sam Underhill (openside) continue as flanks and Billy Vunipola, making his 50th start for England, is at No.8.
Joe Marchant returns from injury and is named as a replacement – alongside Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jonny Hill, Max Malins, Dan Robson and Will Stuart.
England reached the Final after topping Pool A with wins over Wales, Ireland and Georgia.
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“We’re really looking forward to this final, playing France and having another chance to win a trophy this autumn.
“We’d like to congratulate the tournament organisers on putting this on in difficult circumstances,” Jones said.
“Over the past two months the players have put in real effort, worked very hard on and off the pitch and have met the protocols and new ways of working.
“This has been another positive learning week with tough, hard training and we’re looking forward to getting on the pitch in front of our fans and playing a good game of rugby.”
England: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Owen Farrell (captain), 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Tom Curry, 5 Joe Launchbury, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Jonny Hill, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Max Malins, 23 Joe Marchant.
Date: Sunday, December 6
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 14.00 (15.00 French time; 14.00 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace
Assistant referees: Frank Murphy, Craig Evans
TMO: Ben Whitehouse
