England squad announcement: Eddie Jones brings in Chris Ashton for Jack Nowell to face France
The Red Rose aim to remain perfect after a big win in Ireland to start their Six Nations campaign
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Your support makes all the difference.England’s Six Nations squad announcement produced a significant change as Eddie Jones welcomes back Chris Ashton to face France this Sunday at Twickenham.
After last weekend’s triumphant performance in Ireland, Jones' side have now been installed as tournament favourites, England will look to make it back-to-back wins when they face France, who suffered an agonising 24-19 defeat by Wales on the opening night of the tournament last Friday.
Maro Itoje has been ruled out with injury, and while Courtney Lawes comes back into the side, Jones has elected to switch Jack Nowell with Ashton on the right wing, with both Joe Cokanasiga and Brad Shields left out.
Hear what Jones and Owen Farrell had to say below.
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With the 23-man squad announced, Brad Shields and Joe Cokanasiga are the unlucky pair who miss out on selection, though they will remain with the squad as injury cover for the weekend.
Shields has only just recovered from a side strain suffered in England’s training camp in Portugal a week and a half ago, while Cokanasiga has not played for Bath since December after suffering a knee injury.
Jones is due to speak to media from 11am, which you can follow live here, and we’ll pick the brains of the England head coach on his reasons for swapping Ashton and Nowell and leaving out Cokanasiga and Shields, as well as what he makes of the beefed-up French side.
On selection:
France is our most important game so we've selected the best 23 for this week. The only reason whe have a 1-15 and 16-23 is because of convention. A couple of guys' roles have changed but they're just as important.
On swapping Ashton and Nowell:
Chris will be right for the start of the game and Jack will be right for the end of the game, Jack was outstanding last week.
On Maro Itoje:
Maro was really close for selection this week.
Will he be fit to face Wales then?
I'm always optimistic.
On training this week:
We'll be much better this week, even our training yesterday was better than last week in Portugal. We'll be much better.
On France selection:
They're a team full of talent, they've made six changes but they rely on a lot of individual talent.
On Tuilagi vs Bastareaud:
Centres don't play opposite each other, they play left and right centre thsese days so Manu won't be opposite Bastareaud, he just needs to tackle whoever his man is.
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