George Furbank to make England debut against France but Mako Vunipola ruled out of Six Nations opener

Northampton Saints full-back will make his maiden appearance inside the Stade de France as Elliot Daly moves back to the wing, while Joe Marler starts as both Vunipola brothers miss out

George Furbank will make his England debut at full-back after Eddie Jones put his faith in the Northampton Saints youngster for their Six Nations opener against France on Sunday, though they will be without both Vunipola brothers after prop Mako joined Billy on the sidelines.

The 23-year-old Furbank has been rewarded for his tremendous start to the season by taking the No 15 shirt for England’s first match post their Rugby World Cup final defeat, with Jones setting his side the lofty ambition of becoming the “greatest team rugby has ever seen”.

Furbank is named at full-back in place of Anthony Watson, who looked set to switch from the wing until a calf injury ruled him out of ‘Le Crunch’ on Thursday night. Jones had already decided to change his plans in the back three after moving Saracens’ Elliot Daly back to the wing, having deployed him at full-back throughout the World Cup.

Jones has also named Tom Curry at No 8 as expected with Billy Vunipola ruled out of the tournament due to a fourth broken arm in three years, while Courtney Lawes shifts into the back-row to add some bulk to their ball carrying as he is named at blindside flanker alongside Sam Underhill. But more surprisingly is the absence of Mako Vunipola, with the 28-year-old suffering an eye injury in mid-week that he looked set to recover from in time to feature, only for Joe Marler to be handed the No 1 shirt and Ellis Genge named on the bench.

Jones also springs a surprise at lock though as Bath’s Charlie Ewels starts with Maro Itoje, leaving George Kruis among the replacements.

“We have really worried about ourselves, getting ourselves right,” Jones said. “We have picked a strong forward pack which is part of the England way and an exciting backline with young George Furbank playing his first Test at full-back.

“France can expect absolute brutality from England, we are going to go out there to make sure they understand what Test rugby is. It is about being brutal, it is about being physical and it is about dominating the set piece.”

Marler is joined in the front row by Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler in what is otherwise the same side that started the World Cup final, although Jonny May moves to the right wing to accommodate the left-footed Daly in the No 11 shirt. Captain Owen Farrell remains at inside centre with George Ford at No 10, with Manu Tuilagi at outside centre and Leicester teammate Ben Youngs remaining at scrum-half to complete the starting XV.

There will be no debut for Gloucester wing Ollie Thorley as he’s left out of the squad completely, with Exeter’s Ollie Devoto and Bath’s Jonthan Joseph named on the bench with the latter as back-three cover. Luke Cowan-Dickie returned to the squad in time to be named after returning home earlier in the week for personal reasons, while Bath prop Will Stuart could make his debut from the bench. Kruis, Lewis Ludlam and Willi Heinz complete the replacements.

England team to face France:

George Furbank; Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, Charlie Ewels; Courtney Lawes, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Ollie Devoto, Jonathan Joseph.