London, UK – England’s Marcus Smith is set to start at full-back, while Fin Smith is expected to take the fly-half position in Saturday’s Six Nations clash against France at Allianz Stadium.
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If confirmed, it will mark Northampton’s Fin Smith’s first Test start, with the 22-year-old having earned his previous seven caps from the bench. His inclusion at number 10 means Marcus Smith will shift to the less familiar full-back role, despite having started England’s last eight matches at fly-half.
England’s final squad selection, including the starting XV and replacements, will be officially announced on Thursday.
England Seeks to End Losing Streak
France heads into the fixture with confidence, having dominated Wales in the opening round and securing a commanding 53-10 victory over England in this same fixture two years ago.
Meanwhile, England is struggling with form after suffering a defeat to Ireland in Dublin, extending their losing streak against tier-one nations to seven matches—a record under head coach Steve Borthwick.
“We are the England rugby team, and we want to win. We know the expectations that come with it,” said senior coach Richard Wigglesworth on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
“I have no problem with people wanting to see more wins because that is what I want and what we are all working towards. The outcome that we want is to win, so we are not avoiding that.”
Squad Changes Expected
England is also expected to make adjustments in the back row and back three, with Tom Willis reportedly in line for his first Test start at number eight.
Wigglesworth emphasized the importance of balancing squad consistency with strategic selection against a strong French side.
“For many years, England frequently changed the team, which led to low levels of cohesion and trust in the coaches,” he explained.
“We know what hasn’t worked in the past, and we don’t want to be panicked into making the same mistake. But we have to weigh up all those factors and put the right team on the field.”
England will look to secure a much-needed victory and end their losing run when they host France on Saturday.