England started their campaign with a 27-22 loss at holders Ireland last weekend, an eighth defeat from their last 13 games.

Fin Smith set to start at fly-half for England against France - Steve Borthwick’s side looking to bounce back from defeat to Ireland

Fin Smith is under consideration for a first Test start as England look to bounce back from a seventh defeat in nine games

ENGLAND ARE GIVING strong consideration to fielding playmakers Marcus Smith and Fin Smith in their backline against France in the hope of igniting their Guinness Six Nations. Marcus Smith has been first choice out-half since the 2023 World Cup but he could be moved to full-back for Saturday’s Twickenham showdown to accommodate his namesake’s promotion to the starting XV.

England are set to unleash a new playmaker double-act against France at Twickenham on Saturday, by naming their two Smiths together in a revamped back division.

England wing Cadan Murley has been ruled out of the Six Nations clash with France at Twickenham on Saturday with a foot problem. If Murley recovers quickly he could be available for fixtures against Italy and Wales later in the Six Nations.

CADAN MURLEY HAS been ruled out of England’s clash with France on Saturday with a foot problem that could rule him out of the remainder of the Guinness Six Nations. Murley sustained the injury in the round-one defeat by Ireland in Dublin on Saturday and will undergo a scan in two weeks to assess whether he can return for the back end of the Championship.