Worcester Warriors team-mates Matt Mullan and Matt Cox have both been handed starts for the England Under-20s against France Under-21s at Franklin’s Gardens tonight (7.45pm, live on SkySports Xtra)
Academy starlet Mullan retains his spot in the front row while Cox starts at blindside for the first time in the U21s Six Nations alongside Saracens openside Andy Saull and London Wasps No 8 Hugo Ellis.
England will be facing Under-21 opposition as France, like Italy, have not yet followed the Home Nations in moving to an Under-20s age group.
England coach Nigel Redman said: “It will be a tough physical challenge because the French are older but also a tactical one because their rugby brains are older and that is going to be a test, particularly for some of our younger players. I am hoping for more tempo – which what we worked on ahead of the Irish game and didn’t get it – and being more unpredictable in the way we attack.”
England Under-20s:
15 David Doherty (London Wasps)
14 Ollie Dodge (Leicester Tigers)
13 Dominic Waldouck (London Wasps)
12 Adam Powell (Saracens)
11 Selorm Kuadey (Sale Sharks)
10 Seb Jewell (NEC Harlequins)
9 Danny Care (capt, NEC Harlequins)
1 Dan Col (Leicester Tigers)
2 Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
3 Tom Mercey (Saracens)
4 Dave Attwood (Bristol Rugby)
5 Phil Hoy (Northampton Saints)
6 Matt Cox (Worcester Warriors)
7 Andy Saull (Saracens)
8 Hugo Ellis (London Wasps)
Replacements
16 Ross McMillan (Gloucester Rugby)
17 Charlie Beech (Northampton Saints)
18 Alex Shaw (Leicester Tigers)
19 Chevvy Pennycook (Bristol Rugby)
20 Danny Pointon (Northampton Saints)
21 Luke Cozens (Bath Rugby)
22 Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
England Under-20s Results:
Friday February 2 England U-20s 31 Scotland U-20s 5 Recreation Ground, Bath
Friday February 9 England U-20s 30 Italy U-21s 10 Recreation Ground, Bath
Friday February 23 Ireland U-20s 13 England U-20s 6 Dubarry Park, Athlone
England Under-20s Fixtures:
Friday March 9 v France U-21s Northampton, 7.45pm (Live on SkySports Xtra)
Friday March 16 v Wales U-20s Newport, 7.40pm