England take on France at 8pm on Saturday evening, with the home side looking to secure their first Grand Slam in 12 years; Eddie Jones named a 28-man squad that will travel to France on Tuesday; England's final match-day selections will be announced on Thursday at 5.30pm
Tuesday 15 March 2022 22:41, UK
Max Malins will not travel to France for England's Six Nations finale against France, after being omitted from the 28-man squad.
Jack Willis has also been left out and must wait longer for his international comeback.
Malins, who started all four of England's matches in the tournament, has not been selected by head coach Eddie Jones and instead Elliot Daly, Louis Lynagh and Joe Marchant are the main options on England's right wing.
Back-rower Willis will have to wait until at least the summer tour to Australia to make his England comeback. Jones stated on Monday that Willis could train his way into his back-row plans, but the 25-year-old breakdown specialist has instead returned to Wasps.
Willis is only three club games into his return from a sickening knee injury sustained against Italy a year ago.
Sam Underhill has been retained among the 28, while it was announced earlier that Tom Curry will miss the final week after injuring his hamstring against Ireland.
Hooker Jamie Blamire was a late replacement for Jamie George in the 32-15 defeat to Ireland but he has lost that role to Nic Dolly, who is included in his place as Luke Cowan-Dickie recovers from a knee injury.
Jones will name his final 23-man match-day squad to take on France at 5.30pm (GMT) on Thursday afternoon.
"There's no better opportunity for us to show what a good team we can be," the head coach said, at the start of the week.
"Playing a big game at the Stade de France, it's a golden opportunity for us to find out where we're at. It's the next test, it's the most important test and we're looking forward to it."
Despite Les Bleus' heading into the contest with a Grand Slam on the line, Jones believes that are areas England can exploit in order to come out victorious.
"There's not a team in the world, nor in the history of the game, that doesn't have a chink in their armour," Jones noted.
"Exposing it is going to be the key on Saturday. I thought we played exceptionally well against Ireland, will we need to be better against France? Yes, we will be. We will need to be top-class on Saturday."
Sam Simmonds insists England's players are fully behind Jones as the head coach attempts to rescue a disappointing Six Nations from calamity.
"Eddie's experience in the game is amazing. When he talks, boys listen," the Exeter player said.
"I feel like as a group, probably in this campaign more than any other, we've come together as a squad.
"Although that maybe hasn't been reflected in the results against Scotland and Ireland, I feel like people could see at Twickenham on Saturday what it meant for us to play for England.
"Also, we're not just playing for England, we're playing for the coaches. It's big to see that and how much confidence we have in what Eddie does and in how we play the game at the weekend.
"He's improved my game and I wouldn't say there is a player who has left camp who hasn't improved and taken on board the things that Eddie's said."
Forwards: Alfie Barbeary, Ollie Chessum, Nic Dolly, Alex Dombrandt, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart and Sam Underhill.
Backs: Elliot Daly, George Ford, George Furbank, Louis Lynagh, Joe Marchant, Luke Northmore, Jack Nowell, Harry Randall, Henry Slade, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward and Ben Youngs.
