Slade and LCD both start England’s Six Nations tie
HENRY Slade has retained his place in Eddie Jones’ England team for their Guinness Six Nations clash with France at Twickenham tomorrow.
The Plymouth-born Exeter Chiefs ace will again start at outside centre with captain Owen Farrell at inside centre, but there is a surprise at fullback where Max Malins has been preferred to Elliot Daly.
Daly has been a mainstay in Eddie Jones’ first choice XV since 2016 and has been the preferred full-back since 2018, but his slump in form has resulted in his demotion to the bench with Malins taking over the 15 jersey.
The 28-year-old Saracens star gave an improved performance in the 40-24 defeat by Wales but it was still an error-strewn afternoon and Malins, a specialist full-back who has been in dazzling form on-loan at Bristol, comes in.
A second Lion has been axed by Jones after Jamie George was also named among the replacements, losing his place at hooker to Exeter’s Cornish hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie.
The third and final change to the side that effectively surrendered the title at the Principality Stadium sees Charlie Ewels come in for Exeter’s Jonny Hill in the second row.
It is the second time in this Six Nations that George has been ousted from the starting front row after also making way for Cowan-Dickie against Italy.
Cowan-Dickie excelled in the rout of the Azzurri at Twickenham but could not keep the jersey against Wales.
Centre Ollie Lawrence makes his first appearance in the 23 since being dropped as starting inside centre in the wake of the Calcutta Cup defeat by Scotland on the opening weekend. Lawrence will supply midfield cover from the bench.
Losses to Scotland and Wales have left England needing to salvage some pride from their final two matches against France and Ireland.
“This France game is one we are really looking forward to,” the England head coach said.
“We are of course disappointed that we can’t defend the Championship, but that makes this an even more important game. We want to show what we are capable of.
“The squad have competed really hard in training since Sunday. I believe this is the best 23 to really take the game to France and get us on the front foot.”
Mako Vunipola insists there are no untouchables as England’s underperforming stars look to repay the loyalty shown to them by Eddie Jones.
Jones insists his fallen Guinness Six Nations champions are in a transition phase yet has shown little inclination to blood new players in a tournament that has seen the title surrendered with two rounds to spare.
Billy Vunipola and Owen Farrell were among those to produce improved performances against Wales, but England still fell to a 40-24 defeat in Cardiff with tricky fixtures against France and Ireland to come.
Jones names his side on Thursday morning and Mako Vunipola insists no one is assured of their place.
“I don’t know who these untouchables are. I hope I am one of them to be honest! There are no such thing as untouchables,” the Saracens prop said.
“Obviously when you are the captain as Owen Farrell is, there’s a perception that he’s undroppable, but there’s no such thing as that.
M Malins (Bristol); A Watson (Bath), H Slade (Exeter), O Farrell (Saracens, capt), J May (Gloucester), G Ford (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester); M Vunipola (Saracens), L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), K Sinckler (Bristol), M Itoje (Saracens), C Ewels (Bath), M Wilson (Newcastle), T Curry (Sale), B Vunipola (Saracens). Replacements: J George (Saracens), E Genge (Leicester), W Stuart (Bath), J Hill (Exeter), B Earl (Bristol), D Robson (Wasps), O Lawrence (Worcester), E Daly (Saracens).