<
>

Eddie Jones gives George Furbank England debut in Six Nations clash with France

George Furbank of Northampton Saints will make his England debut against France in the Six Nations on Feb. 2, with Anthony Watson out injured. Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images

England manager Eddie Jones has handed Northampton full-back George Furbank his international debut in his team to face France in the Six Nations on Sunday.

Jones has gone for an experienced side with 675 caps in the starting XV for the game in Paris.

- ESPN Fantasy Rugby is back! Click here to pick your team!

Owen Farrell will captain the side with George Ford starting at fly-half and Manu Tuilagi at outside centre.

A calf injury to Anthony Watson sees Elliot Daly named on the left wing and Johnny May on the right.

"It has been a massively exciting week for us. It is the start of the Guinness Six Nations, the best rugby tournament in the world. We have had a great preparation in Portugal with a quality training week this week," Jones said in a statement.

"We have really worried about ourselves, getting ourselves right. 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."

England come into this tournament as Rugby World Cup runners-up after losing to South Africa in Japan.

The last time these two sides met, England beat France 44-8 at Twickenham.

The France team to take on England was announced earlier in the week.

England team to play 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