BIG BEN UP FOR A SLOG
Eddie ready to flex muscles in France
BEN TE’O could start against France in Paris on Saturday with England set to muscle up for a “slogathon”.
The Lions centre has had just two brief appearances off the bench since England’s Six Nations opener against Italy.
But England coach Eddie Jones wants to beef up the side against a big French side on a muddy pitch.
Jones said: “We all know the Stade de France is a heavy pitch anyway and with heavy rain forecast it will be even heavier, so it will be a ‘slogathon’.
“Jacques Brunel (French coach) picks big teams, very big teams. They will be very physical and aggressive. You have just got to look at their motivation.
“Bernard Laporte, who is a fairly influential figure in French rugby, said it is never over until you play the English.
“Their mindset is that this is their ® Grand Final. They can have a great Six Nations or a poor Six Nations depending on this game. This is what we have to embrace, even more so having been successful.”
Following the shock defeat against Scotland 10 days ago, Te’o is likely to be a straight swap for Jonathan Joseph at outside centre.
Jones is unlikely to split up twin playmakers George Ford and Owen Farrell to find a slot for him.
He said: “I’m not wedded to anything. No one’s indispensable. The players understand that.
“They’ve got to play and perform. Who’s at 10 and 12 will be done on who we think it best for that game.”
Dylan Hartley will keep his place as captain in a pack which, despite calls for a better balanced back row, should be unchanged ahead of a likely route one rumble.
Elliot Daly’s kicking game puts him in the reckoning for a recall after proving his fitness in training, while Sam Simmonds is also back and chasing a bench spot.
But Jones is no hatchet man and, despite the Murrayfield loss, he’ll give the bulk of his players a chance to redeem themselves. He added: “You don’t win 24 out of 26 games doing a lot of things wrong.”