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England make three changes, including giving Max Malins a first Test start

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by PA)

England have made three changes to their team to play France on Saturday at Twickenham in round four of the Guinness Six Nations following their February 27 24-40 away loss to Wales. Coach Eddie Jones has opted to give Max Malins his first-ever Test level start, while Luke Cowan-Dickie and Charlie Ewels are called into the pack.

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Malins, 24, has so far made all six of his appearances off the bench but he now takes over from the benched Elliot Daly in an otherwise unchanged backline. In the forwards, Cowan-Dickie – a starter in round two versus Italy – takes back the hooking jersey from Jamie George while Ewels is set to make only his second-ever Six Nations start, taking over from the benched Jonny Hill. 

Jones said: “This France game is one we are really looking forward to. We are of course disappointed that we can’t defend the championship, but that makes this an even more important game.

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“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.”

On the bench, Jones has gone with a five/three forwards/backs split, one more back then he had at his disposal in Cardiff. It sees the uncapped George Martin excluded from the bench and a recall for Ollie Lawrence, the midfielder who hasn’t been involved since his round one start versus Scotland.

The defending champions are currently fourth on the Six Nations table with just six points, eight points behind the leaders Wales and three shy of France who have a game in hand. Ireland, who host the English on March 20 in Dublin, are in third on seven points.    

ENGLAND (vs France, Saturday)
15. Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 49 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 37 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 91 caps) (C)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 64 caps)
10. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 75 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 107 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 65 caps)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 29 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 42 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 46 caps)
5. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 19 caps)
6. Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, 21 caps)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 31 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 59 caps)
FINISHERS
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 57 caps)
17. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 26 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 10 caps)
19. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 7 caps)
20. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 11 caps)
21. Dan Robson (Wasps, 10 caps)
22. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, 4 caps)
23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 50 caps)

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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