England can power on
COACH Stuart Lancaster has made three changes, bringing in big hitters Manu Tuilagi, Dylan Hartley and Courtney Lawes, in what must rank as his best possible selection.
This is a measure not of how well France are playing, but of how Philippe Saint-Andre's man can be transformed in the blink of an eye. He has made eight changes, almost all of them for the better.
England will be wary for France bring the level of size and power that can trouble the static English as long as their attitude is right. This must be in question given how they flopped against Wales.
The home side will look for the pack to gain a foothold, Geoff Parling to control the lineout, Tuilagi to truck it up the middle and Owen Farrell to kick everything in sight.
Verdict: England
England: A Goode; C Ashton, M Tuilagi, B Baritt, M Brown; O Farrell, B Youngs; J Marler, D Hartley, D Cole, J Launchbury, G Parling, C Lawes, C Robshaw (capt), T Wood.
France: Y Huget; V Clerc, M Bastareaud, W Fofana, B Fall; F Trinh-Duc, M Parra; T Domingo, B Kayser, N Mas, C Samson, Y Maestri, Y Nyanga, T Dusautoir (capt), L Picamoles.
