The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Ashton given nod to face France
Jones goes with gut feeling as Nowell is replaced on wing for Twickenham clash
England have sprung a surprise by naming Chris Ashton in place of Jack Nowell for tomorrow’s Guinness Six Nations clash with France at Twickenham.
Nowell impressed through his workrate and carrying in the 32-20 victory over Ireland but has lost his spot on the right wing to Ashton, who makes his first Championship start since 2013.
Ashton is well known to France’s players after spending a season at Toulon in which he set a new Top 14 tryscoring record of 24 touchdowns in 23 appearances before joining Sale last summer.
“We have gone for Chris Ashton on the wing because we think he might sneak us a try early in the game,” head coach Eddie Jones said.
“We’ve just got a gut feeling he’ll be right for the start and Jack will be right for the end.
“Jack was absolutely outstanding for us against Ireland, absolutely outstanding, so it’s just a different role for him this time.
“He’s got a great work-rate and can fill a number of positions. At the end of the game that work-rate is going to be important.”
The second change to the starting XV sees Courtney Lawes partner George Kruis at lock after Maro Itoje was struck down by a knee injury in Dublin. Filling the vacancy on the bench created by Lawes’ promotion is Joe Launchbury.
Itoje was expected to be missing until the final rounds but he could now be back sooner than expected from his grade two medial ligament tear, although Jones declined to reveal whether that would be in time for the February 23 appointment with Wales.
“It’s unfortunate Maro is injured but he has been rehabbing well so we are hopeful he will be back earlier than maybe first predicted,” Jones said.
When asked if he could return in time to face Warren Gatland’s men, Jones replied: “I’m always optimistic. He was almost available for selection this week but he’s not.
“We’ve got great depth in the squad so Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes will fill Maro’s shoes very well.”
Apart from the presence of Nowell and Launchbury, there are two more changes to the bench in the form of props Dan Cole and Ben Moon, who have displaced Harry Williams and Ellis Genge.
France have recalled Toulon centre Mathieu Bastareaud.
The experienced defensive lynchpin was left out of the side that suffered a 24-19 defeat to Wales in Paris.
Bastareaud’s return is one of six changes to the side by head coach Jacques Brunel.
“I explained last week the tenure of Romain Ntamack and Wesley Fofana, noting that Mathieu Bastareaud remained an important option for us and that he was important in our system and our team,” Brunel said at a press conference, reported on L’Equipe.
“Today, it seems appropriate for us to do it because it seems to us to be an important option against England.”
Geoffrey Doumayrou returns in the centres, Yacouba Camara in the back row, with lock Felix Lambey and prop Demba Bamba also starting.
Bastareaud was replaced for the game with Wales by debutant Romain Ntamack, but the 19-year-old Toulouse centre drops to the bench.
Bastareaud starts alongside Geoffrey Doumayrou, who replaces the injured Wesley Fofana.
With Brunel also without two other injured players in Maxime Medard and Uini Atonio, Yoann Huget switches to full-back and Demba Bamba starts at tighthead prop.
Flanker Yacouba Camara comes in for Wenceslas Lauret, while lock Felix Lambey replaces Paul Willemse.
Dorian Aldegheri and Thomas Ramos join the list of replacements and could make their debuts.