| Venue: Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne Date: Saturday, 30 April Kick-off: 14:15 BST |
| Coverage: Watch on BBC Two; pay attention on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, with reside textual content commentary on the BBC Sport web site & app. |
Emily Scarratt will captain England within the absence of the injured Sarah Hunter and Poppy Cleall is ready to start out at quantity eight for Saturday’s Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider in France.
The returning Sarah Beckett and Sadia Kabeya are two of six forwards named on the bench, with England anticipating an intense bodily battle.
Alex Matthews earns her fiftieth cap because the Red Roses search a fourth straight title.
Cleall has had scans since sustaining her calf damage final Sunday and head coach Simon Middleton mentioned “we’re anticipating Poppy to be match” for Saturday.
“She’ll undergo some extra exams,” Middleton continued.
“Everything’s in place if she does break down previous to the sport or throughout the sport however we do not anticipate that being the case.”
‘The hardest sport you’ll be able to play’
England’s final defeat by France got here within the 2018 Six Nations, once they had been overwhelmed 18-17 in Grenoble.
Another tight and thrilling sport is anticipated, with England profitable their final three conferences by 4 factors or fewer.
The Red Roses have outscored France by 42 tries to twenty within the event thus far however Les Bleues – in the identical pool as England for October’s World Cup – might be buoyed by a sell-out crowd in Bayonne.
“It’s most likely the hardest sport you’ll be able to play in worldwide rugby at this second in time – France in France,” Middleton added.
“We’ve acquired to seize maintain of the environment in addition to the sport. We’re on this enterprise to get to those moments and see how good we truly are.”
England decide for continuity
Cleall’s inclusion is the one change to England’s beginning XV as she is known as within the again row alongside Matthews and Marlie Packer.
Helena Rowland impressed on her first England begin at full-back towards Ireland and retains the 15 shirt, with Lydia Thompson and Jess Breach once more on the wings.
Scarratt captains from exterior centre, with Holly Aitchison inside her as Leanne Infante and Zoe Harrison begin at 9 and 10.
Vickii Cornborough, Lark Davies and Sarah Bern stay within the entrance row with world participant of the 12 months Zoe Aldcroft and Abbie Ward the locks.
France carry again fly-half Caroline Drouin to companion star scrum-half Laure Sansus with veteran 10 Jessy Tremouliere – spectacular in latest weeks – dropping to the bench.
The solely different modifications for the hosts see Audrey Forlani come into the second row as Celine Ferer takes the place of Julie Annery at flanker.
Line-ups
England: Rowland; Thompson, Scarratt (capt), Aitchison, Breach; Harrison, Infante; Cornborough, Davies, Bern, Aldcroft, Ward, Matthews, Packer, Cleall.
Replacements: Cokayne, Botterman, Muir, Galligan, Beckett, Kabeya, Hunt, Kildunne.
France: Jacquet; Boujard, Filopon, Vernier, M Menager; Drouin, Sansus; Deshayes, Sochat, Joyeux, Fall, Forlani, Ferer, Hermet (capt), R Menager.
Replacements: Touye, Lindelhauf, Brosseau, Annery, Gros, Chambon, Tremouliere, Boulard.
