Max Malins, Charlie Ewels, Luke Cowan-Dickie brought in for England vs France Six Nations Test

England head coach Eddie Jones makes three changes to his starting XV to face France at Twickenham in the Six Nations on Saturday. Max Malins, Charlie Ewels and Luke Cowan-Dickie replace Elliot Daly, Jonny Hill and Jamie George respectively in starting XV. Ollie Lawrence named on bench

By Michael Cantillon

England head coach Eddie Jones explains his decision to give Max Malins his first start after replacing Elliot Daly at full-back against France

Eddie Jones has made major changes to his starting England XV to face France in the Six Nations on Saturday, as Max Malins, Charlie Ewels and Luke Cowan-Dickie are named to start.

Bristol back Malins replaces Elliot Daly at full-back in his first-ever Test start, while Bath lock Charlie Ewels starts in place of Exeter's Jonny Hill alongside Maro Itoje.

Ewels has only started one Six Nations match in his career before now - the corresponding fixture last year against France that England lost 24-17 in Paris.

England head coach Eddie Jones admits his side are in a 'sticky period' with their Six Nations title defence all but over

At hooker, Jamie George - like Daly and Hill - moves onto the replacements bench, as Exeter's Cowan-Dickie starts.

Elsewhere the side remains the same, with wings Anthony Watson and Jonny May completing the back-three alongside Malins, Henry Slade at outside-centre and skipper Owen Farrell at inside-centre.

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The half-backs are George Ford and Ben Youngs - the latter in line to earn his 108th England cap at scrum-half.

In the forwards, Mako Vunipola and Kyle Sinckler flank Cowan-Dickie at loosehead prop and tighthead prop respectively.

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Image: Bath second row Charlie Ewels will make just the second Six Nations start of his career

The back-row is the same configuration as the one named in defeat to Wales at Cardiff in Round 3: Mark Wilson at blindside flanker, Tom Curry at openside and Billy Vunipola at No 8.

"This France game is one we are really looking forward to," Jones said on Thursday.

"We are of course disappointed that we can't defend the championship, but that makes this an even more important game. We want to show what we are capable of.

"The squad have competed really hard in training since Sunday. I believe this is the best 23 to really take the game to France and get us on the front foot."

Image: Exeter Chiefs hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie is the third change to the England XV, starting ahead of Jamie George

Among the replacements, Worcester centre Ollie Lawrence returns to the squad as Jones reverts back to a more traditional five-three split of forwards to backs, as opposed to the six-two split he has favoured more recently.

Of three championship fixtures so far, England have suffered defeats to Scotland at home and Wales away, either side of a victory against Italy at Twickenham.

France meanwhile have picked up wins over Italy in Rome and Ireland in Dublin so far, while their round-three fixture vs Scotland in Paris was postponed due to an outbreak of Covid-19 in the French ranks.

Les Bleus will be seeking a first victory over England at Twickenham for 14 years, dating back to 2007 when they travel to the home of English rugby this weekend. They are also seeking a first title and Grand Slam since 2010.

England: 15 Max Malins, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Jonny Hill, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Ollie Lawrence, 23 Elliot Daly.

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