Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news
George Ford has been dropped from the England side for their final Six Nations clash with Ireland as Eddie Jones wields the axe with seven new faces and 10 changes in total to the side that suffered back-to-back defeats, with Danny Care, Joe Launchbury and Dan Cole also paying the price.
Owen Farrell is moved to his natural fly-half position as Ford drops to the bench, having seen his form slump during the 2018 championship, while Richard Wigglesworth comes into the side to partner his Saracens half-back colleague in place of Care.
Captain Dylan Hartley has been passed fit to return to the side after missing the 22-16 defeat against France last weekend, with Leicester Tigers prop Cole dropped to the replacements’ bench as Kyle Sinckler makes his first start for England. George Kruis comes back into the second-row to partner fellow Saracen Maro Itoje, and both James Haskell and Sam Simmonds come into the back-row as expected at openside flanker and No 8 respectively, with Chris Robshaw moving to blindside.
Show all 30 1 /30France vs England player ratings France vs England player ratings <b>France:</b> Hugo Bonneval – 6 out of 10 Took a nasty-looking whack from an accidental collision with Jonny May that forced him off the field for a Head Injury Assessment, and although he returned to the action, he failed to come out of the changing rooms at half-time.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Benjamin Fall – 7 out of 10 Dangerous both on the wing and at full-back when he was required to cover for the injured Bonneval. A surging break into the England 22 before half-time drew a penalty for an Itoje high tackle that led to three points.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Mathieu Bastareaud – 8 out of 10 Another brilliant display as he led the French defensive effort with two crucial tackles and turnovers. A real powerhouse who stood up well against the more mobile Ben Te’o, and his celebrations at the full-time whistle were brilliant to see. Turning into the international player we all expected.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Geoffrey Doumayrou – 7 out of 10 A strong showing as he rushed up on Ford and Farrell to limit the chances the play-making duo were able to conjure.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Remy Grosso – 8 out of 10 His powerful running causes England a lot of problems, particularly when he cut in field to search for the ball. Two good runs out wide brought good yards, and he contested for the high ball that led to the important penalty try.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Francois Trinh-Duc – 7 out of 10 It was his cross-field bomb that put May and Watson under pressure and lead to the match-defining moment. He played well on his return to the starting XV, and deserves another run-out next weekend.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Maxime Machenaud – 8 out of 10 A very controlled and mature performance from the scrum-half who ended with a personal haul of 12 points from five penalties – and nearly bagged himself a try had he not slipped diving for the line.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Jefferson Poirot – 7 out of 10 The stronger of the two French props and more than met his match against Dan Cole. Carried well and was a physical presence in the defensive line and he repeatedly met England’s biggest carriers.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Guilhem Guirado – 8 out of 10 The talisman of French rugby who set the tone with his defensive showing, but also his ball carrying. One eye-catching break in the second half produced the match-defining moment as the penalty try came from the resulting play. Left the field shortly after the hour mark to a standing ovation from the home fans – and probably some in white too.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Rabah Slimani – 5 out of 10 France’s weak point, strangely, as he was penalised no fewer than three times in the scrum as Mako Vunipola dominated him. Ineffective in the loose too and hauled off before the hour mark.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Paul Gabrillagues – 6 out of 10 Struggled in the set-piece as England’s lineout clicked throughout the match. Much more prevalent in the loose though as he carried strongly.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Sebastien Vahaamahina – 5 out of 10 Run ragged by Itoje in the lineout and also came off second best against the England lock in the loose as he was beaten in the physical battle. Gave away a needless penalty for shoving Anthony Watson in the face.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Wenceslas Lauret – 7 out of 10 Did a lot of the unseen work in the ruck to disrupt English ball, allowing Camara and Bastareaud to take the plaudits for grabbing turnover after turnover.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Yacouba Camara – 8 out of 10 Along with Guirado he was France’s best forward. Didn’t do much wrong, and even when he did by clearly killing the ball after taking a charging run from Itoje, he got away with it. A brilliant tackler who also showed his talent with the ball.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Marco Tauleigne – 7 out of 10 An early chance to stretch his legs went unrewarded as Jaco Peyper called play back for a forward pass, but he ate up the yards in front of him when he was given a second chance midway through the first half. Carried very well throughout, but also made an impact off the ball.
Getty
France vs England player ratings <b>England:</b> Anthony Watson – 6 out of 10 Will feel he was unlucky to receive a yellow card for what was initially a try-saving tackle on Fall, but when the high shot was on his own line it was a warranted punishment. Tried to inject some pace from the back but given little space to work with by France’s mobile forwards.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Jonny May – 6 out of 10 On hand to finish England’s try late in the game and had a couple of other chances to show off his pace, although on one occasion that ended with a shuddering hit from Machenaud.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Ben Te’o – 6 out of 10 Tried to find an edge to work with but was unable to get away from Doumayrou and Bastareaud. His offloading game was kept quiet, and he was always half a stride away from breaking the line. His defence stood firm, but is he a Test 13?
Getty
France vs England player ratings Owen Farrell – 7 out of 10 Scored 11 of England’s points and created the score for May with a nice flat pass that the Wasps wing tipped back inside, and some of his touch-finding was excellent – particularly the three penalty kicks to touch on the French 5m. Still questions about how he and Ford are working this year.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Elliot Daly – 7 out of 10 His first game back from injury can probably go down as a success, but it also exposed the fact that England are hiding one of their best threats out wide. He had one excellent surge into the French half, and his pass inside for May’s try was world class. Also reminded everyone of his long-range kicking ability with a 53m penalty.
Getty
France vs England player ratings George Ford – 6 out of 10 Struggled to cope with the pressure that came his way from the French defensive line, and wasn’t given much protection from his runners away from the first phase. Taken off when England needed a Plan B, which has often been Jones’ get-out clause.
France vs England player ratings Danny Care – 6 out of 10 Loose box-kicking from the base of the ruck and again his running ability was nullified by the defence. Should be genuine questions about whether he is suited to England’s approach when starting as opposed to finishing matches.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Mako Vunipola – 8 out of 10 Brilliant against a world class operator in Slimani and won his side three penalties, one of which brought three points and two others that relieved the pressure on his side. Took on a huge amount of the carrying workload too.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Jamie George – 6 out of 10 His lineout throwing was strong as he filled the vacant shoes of the England captain, with Dylan Hartley sidelined through a calf injury. Didn’t over an awful lot carrying though as was not at his best.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Dan Cole – 5 out of 10 His battle with Poirot remained fairly even throughout the match but guilty of ill-discipline, again, when he was penalised on his own try line for not rolling away. It led to three points that got France back on level terms.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Joe Launchbury – 5 out of 10 Tried to carry well but was offered little support, but in the grand scheme of things it was one of his more quiet performances and that was reflected in is early withdrawal before the hour mark.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Maro Itoje – 6 out of 10 Looked a bit more like the imposing figure that England need right now as he tried to intimidate Camara and also protected his teammates. Ran the lineout exceptionally well, but is not back to his best yet.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Courtney Lawes – 5 out of 10 One good carry in the second half resulted in the try – and also in him being bent painfully backwards by the French defence. Looked to pick up a knock in that incident that left him shaken for the remaining five minutes.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Chris Robshaw – 6 out of 10 His work-rate was up there as ever but he was a yard of the pace today as Peyper penalised him on more than one occasion, causing England to lose a lot of their own ball.
Getty
France vs England player ratings Nathan Hughes – 5 out of 10 The heavy strapping to his left knee suggested that all is not well with his previous injury, and it came back to haunt him when a clear-out resulted in a French defender landing awkwardly on his leg and bending his knee the wrong way.
Getty
With Farrell switching to fly-half, Ben Te’o moves inside to the vacant 12 shirt and Jonathan Joseph is restored to the side, while the back three remains intact with Elliot Daly recovering from the minor foot injury he suffered last week, meaning that Anthony Watson continues at full-back and Mike Brown misses out once again.
Jones was forced into two of his changes through injury, with Courtney Lawes and Nathan Hughes both ruled out for at least three months after undergoing knee surgery this week that has ended their seasons prematurely. Both forwards sustained knee ligament damage in the defeat in Paris, with Haskell and Armand drafted into the squad to replace them.
With Hughes absent at No 8 and first-choice Billy Vunipola already sidelined as he recovers from a fractured arm, Simmonds returns to make his first start since suffering a shoulder problem in the win over Wales last month, although the Exeter Chiefs back-row did replace Hughes last weekend when he came off midway through the first half.
England team vs Ireland Anthony Watson; Jonny May, Jonathan Joseph, Ben Te’o, Elliot Daly; Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Dylan Hartley, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Chris Robshaw, James Haskell, Sam Simmonds.
Replacements: Jamie George, Joe Marler, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Don Armand , Danny Care, George Ford, Mike Brown.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies