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England drop Joe Marler to bench for France showdown

Joe Marler escaped sanction for a couple of incidents against Wales
Joe Marler escaped sanction for a couple of incidents against Wales

England have named Joe Marler on the bench for Saturday's Grand Slam match against France in Paris (8pm) after making two changes to their starting line-up.

Mako Vunipola is preferred to Marler at loosehead prop and Danny Care replaces Ben Youngs at scrum-half in the only adjustments as the newly-crowned RBS 6 Nations champions seek to complete a first clean sweep since 2003.

Marler was cleared to play at the Stade de France late on Wednesday evening after escaping sanction from the rugby judiciary for striking one Wales prop - Rob Evans - and verbally abusing a second by calling Samson Lee "gypsy boy".

Despite the 25-year-old's unexpected availability - he pleaded guilty to both offences that occurred in the first half of last weekend's 25-21 victory at Twickenham - he must settle for a spot among the replacements.

"We've picked our best 23 who we know can get the job done in Paris," head coach Eddie Jones said.

"Everyone wants to be on the field this Saturday so selection was nip and tuck.

"Danny Care starts at scrum-half with Ben Youngs finishing the game. Mako Vunipola comes in at loosehead for Joe Marler who will make an impact off the bench."

England: M Brown (Harlequins); A Watson (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), J Nowell (Exeter); G Ford (Bath), D Care (Harlequins); M Vunipola (Saracens), D Hartley (Northampton, capt), D Cole (Leicester), M Itoje (Saracens), G Kruis (Saracens), C Robshaw (Harlequins), J Haskell (Wasps), B Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), J Marler (Harlequins), K Brookes (Northampton), J Launchbury (Wasps), J Clifford (Harlequins), B Youngs (Leicester), M Tuilagi (Leicester), E Daly (Wasps).