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Ashton and Lawes promoted to start for England in Le Crunch

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Chris Ashton will make his first Guinness Six Nations start in six years after being named as one of just two changes to England’s starting XV.

Chris Ashton will make his first Guinness Six Nations start in six years after being named as one of just two changes to England’s starting XV.

Ashton is preferred to Jack Nowell on the right wing for Le Crunch this weekend against France, while Courtney Lawes comes into the second row for the injured Maro Itoje.

Ashton last started a Championship game for England back in 2013 under Stuart Lancaster when their Grand Slam hopes were ended by Wales in Cardiff.

And after appearing as a replacement in their historic win over Ireland last weekend, Ashton switches roles with Nowell who drops to the bench.

There, Nowell is joined by his Exeter Chiefs teammate Ben Moon as well as the experienced returning faces of Dan Cole and Joe Launchbury.

Head coach Eddie Jones said: “After the Ireland game we have had to refocus and reset. Players have been very good and certainly by Sunday we’ll be at our best.

“The French are always an interesting side to play against. They are full of talent, they have a lot of unpredictability – it’s hard to prepare tactically against them, so we have had a real focus on ourselves.

“It is unfortunate Maro is injured but he has been rehabbing well so we are hopeful he will be back earlier than maybe first predicted. We have got great depth in the squad so Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes will fill his shoes very well.

“Jack Nowell was brilliant against Ireland and he’ll play a significant role for us off the bench.

“We can’t wait to play in front of our supporters, I’m sure they will be buoyant by the first round results and we promise we will play a better game on Sunday.”    England starting XV to face France   15 Elliot Daly (Wasps) 14 Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks) 13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) 12 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers) 11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers) 10 Owen Farrell (Saracens) (c) 9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)   1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens) 2 Jamie George (Saracens) 3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins) 4 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) 5 George Kruis (Saracens) 6 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons) 7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) 8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens)   Replacements    16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs) 17 Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs) 18 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers) 19 Joe Launchbury (Wasps) 20 Nathan Hughes (Wasps) 21 Dan Robson (Wasps) 22 George Ford (Leicester Tigers) 23 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)