Eddie Jones has named his side for England’s RBS 6 Nations opener against France
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There are five changes to the starting XV that defeated Australia at the end of last year to complete an unbeaten 2016.
Elliot Daly (Wasps) starts on the left wing with Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby) installed on the right. In the scrum Joe Marler (Harlequins) packs down at loose-head, Joe Launchbury (Wasps) is named in the second-row and Maro Itoje (Saracens) starts at blindside flanker making up a match-day XV totalling 595 caps.
On the bench there are returns for loose-head prop Matt Mullan, flanker James Haskell (both Wasps) and wing Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs).
England match-day 23 for the RBS 6 Nations game against France
15. Mike Brown (vice captain, Harlequins, 55 caps)
14. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 22 caps)
13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 29 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (vice captain, Saracens, 47 caps)
11. Elliot Daly (Wasps, 8 caps)
10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 30 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 65 caps)
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 46 caps)
2. Dylan Hartley (captain, Northampton Saints, 79 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 69 caps)
4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 37 caps)
5. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 53 caps)
6. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 7 caps)
7. Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 45 caps)
8. Nathan Hughes (Wasps, 3 caps)
Replacements
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 12 caps)
17. Matt Mullan (Wasps, 13 caps)
18. Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 4 caps)
19. Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
20. James Haskell (Wasps, 70 caps)
21. Danny Care (Harlequins, 66 caps)
22. Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors, 3 caps)
23. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps)
England will be aiming to achieve a similar 2017 to that of 2016 as they kick-off their first game of the year against France at Twickenham on Saturday.
They were unbeaten in all competitions last year and racked up 4 victories against Australia, as well as beating the Springboks and Argentina.
England will play three home matches (vs France, Italy and Scotland) and two away matches this Six Nations and two away games (vs Wales and Ireland) in Six Nations 2017.
