England will look to try and ruin France’s Grand Slam party in Paris on Super Saturday.
France lead Ireland by two points in the standings for the 2022 Six Nations and will secure the title if they win in the final round of this year’s championship.
England are scrambling to avoid a bottom-half finish for a second consecutive year under coach Eddie Jones, who is under pressure after two defeats already.
Les Bleus were far from at their dominant best but still managed to hang on for a hard-fought 13-9 triumph over Wales in Cardiff last week, moving them to within one victory of a first title since 2010 and with a home World Cup looming next year.
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England would love to spoil the party for their old rivals this weekend, though can no longer hope to win the Six Nations themselves.
Jones’ side - beaten in the Calcutta Cup on opening weekend - delivered a valiant performance with 14 men against Ireland following Charlie Ewels’ red card for a dangerous tackle after only 82 seconds in round four, but could not prevent the visitors from pulling away late for a dramatic 32-15 triumph at an electric Twickenham.
England can now only finish as high as third in this year’s championship, while they could end up with back-to-back fifth-place finishes if results go against them, something Jones will be desperate to avoid.
A win seals the title and Grand Slam for France, but a loss could hand glory to Ireland, provided Andy Farrell’s side see off Scotland in Dublin earlier in the day.
France vs England date, kick-off time and venue
France vs England is scheduled for an 8pm GMT kick-off on Saturday March 19, 2022.
The match - the last of the three to kick off on the final Six Nations Saturday - will take place at the Stade de France in Paris.
How to watch France vs England
TV channel: In the UK, France vs England will be broadcast live on ITV, with coverage beginning at 7:15pm.
Live stream: Live coverage of the match will also be available online, via the ITV website and ITV Hub.
Live blog: You can also follow all the action with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, featuring expert analysis from Simon Collings in Paris.
France vs England team news
France have made just one change from their gritty win in Cardiff, with Damian Penaud now recovered from Covid-19 and back on the right wing.
Yoram Moefana drops out of the squad altogether as Fabien Galthie opts for a 6-2 bench split in preparation for a bruising second half, with lock Romain Taofifenua also back in the 23 after a positive test.
France’s remarkable consistency with selection has seen them make just one non-Covid enforced change throughout the entire Six Nations.
England have produced a surprise by naming George Furbank at full-back, with Jones likely set to employ a tactical kicking game in Paris.
Freddie Steward shifts onto the wing with Max Malins dropped altogether, while Ben Youngs returns at scrum-half in place of Harry Randall.
In the pack, Kyle Sinckler is replaced by Will Stuart at tighthead and Sam Underhill deputises for the injured Tom Curry, while the suspended Ewels makes way for Nick Isiekwe.
France vs England lineups
France lineup: M Jaminet; D Penaud, G Fickou, J Danty, G Villiere; R Ntamack, A Dupont (c); C Baille, J Marchand, U Atonio, C Woki, P Willimse, F Cros, A Jelonch, G Alldritt.
Replacements: P Mauvaka, JB Gros, M Haouas, R Taofifenua, T Flament, D Cretin, M Lucu, T Ramos.
England lineup: Furbank; Steward, Marchant, Slade, Nowell; Smith, Youngs; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Isiekwe, Lawes (c), Underhill, Simmonds.
Replacements: Marler, Dolly, Sinckler, Chessum, Dombrandt, Randall, Ford, Daly.
France vs England prediction
France were repeatedly frustrated by Wales, and somewhat fortunate that the hosts lacked a killer instinct in the second half of an attritional contest at the Principality Stadium.
But championship success is built on still managing to prevail in such situations and how Les Bleus will relish the chance to seal a Grand Slam against England of all teams.
Jones’ men should be incredibly proud of their battling display with 14 men against Ireland and his side will be very eager to ruin the Grand Slam dream here.
France’s bench split shows they are ready for an ultra-physical confrontation and you’d expect their attacking talent to be chomping at the bit to get loose after being contained on Friday night in Cardiff.
Marshalled by the excellent reigning World Player of the Year Antoine Dupont, a first Grand Slam for 12 years surely beckons.
France to win by 10 points.
France vs England head to head (h2h) history and results
This will be the 109th meeting between these two nations. England have won 60 and France 41 to go along with seven draws.
Maro Itoje’s late try sealed a dramatic 23-20 win for England at Twickenham in this fixture last year, while Owen Farrell’s ‘golden point’ penalty in sudden-death extra time secured victory over a youthful France outfit in a memorable Autumn Nations Cup Final in December 2020.
France vs England betting odds
France win: 3/10
England win: 13/5
Draw: 25/1
Antoine Dupont first tryscorer: 9/1
