France vs England: Steve Borthwick makes one change in bid to avoid worst-ever Six Nations

Chessum will start at blindside flanker in the Super Saturday finale in Paris, with Sam Underhill dropping to the bench as Guy Pepper switches to the openside and Ben Earl retains his place at number eight.

That is the only personnel change made by the under-pressure Borthwick following the historic 23-18 loss to Italy in round four that further heightened the scrutiny on his position amid a disastrous campaign so far.

It was already the most changes ever made by an England head coach between two Six Nations matches.

Those sweeping alterations included changing all of his backs apart from Tommy Freeman, who moved back from the wing to outside centre.

Alex Mitchell’s hamstring injury led to Ben Spencer starting at scrum-half, with Fin Smith replacing George Ford at fly-half and Seb Atkinson brought in for his Six Nations debut in midfield alongside Freeman, with Ollie Lawrence sidelined with a knee problem.

Henry Arundell also made way as Cadan Murley and Tom Roebuck started out wide, with Elliot Daly replacing Freddie Steward at full-back.

Borthwick has named the same backline to face title-contending France in ‘Le Crunch’ this weekend, with Jack van Poortvliet and Marcus Smith remaining the only bench cover in another 6-2 split in favour of forwards.

The pack is unchanged aside from the back-row reshuffle that sees Chessum start at six for the first time in this Six Nations and Underhill drop to the bench, with Alex Coles partnering captain Maro Itoje at lock.

Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes line up at prop, either side of hooker Jamie George. Luke Cowan-Dickie, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Cunningham-South and Henry Pollock remain as replacements.

Underhill and Marcus Smith will both earn their 50th Test caps off the bench.

“It’s a huge challenge under the lights in Paris against a very strong France side,” said Borthwick. “England versus France is one of the great rivalries in international rugby and we’re looking forward to the occasion.”

England started the Six Nations with a 12th successive Test win in their home opener against Wales, only to then be brushed aside by both Scotland and Ireland before losing to Italy for the first time to languish down in fifth place – a position they have not finished in since 2021.

Another loss in Paris would make it their worst-ever Six Nations showing, with defending champions France still topping the table despite seeing hopes of a first Grand Slam since 2022 wrecked by a shock 50-40 defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield on the penultimate weekend.

Their significant advantage in points difference over title rivals Scotland and Ireland means they would win the competition if they beat England with a try bonus point, with exactly what they need to become clear well ahead of kick-off as Ireland host Scotland in Dublin first up on Super Saturday.

England could technically still end up with the dreaded wooden spoon if they were hammered by France and Wales thrashed Italy, but it would take a huge swing in points difference.

England XV: Daly; Roebuck, Freeman, Atkinson, Murley; F Smith, Spencer; Genge, George, Heyes; Itoje (c), Coles; Chessum, Pepper, Earl

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Cunningham-South, Underhill, Pollock, Van Poortvliet, M Smith