England captain Owen Farrell has been dropped for their Six Nations clash against reigning champions France with coach Steve Borthwick making the bold decision to start Marcus Smith at fly-half for the game at Twickenham on Saturday.
Farrell, who has 104 caps and has been England captain since 2019, drops to the bench with prop Ellis Genge set to lead an otherwise unchanged team that beat Wales 20-10 in Cardiff in the previous round.
Maro Itoje and Ollie Chessum are at lock while the pack is completed by flankers Jack Willis and Lewis Ludlam, with Alex Dombrandt at number 8.
Jack van Poortvliet is at scrum-half while Ollie Lawrence is at inside centre and Henry Slade slots in at outside centre.
"The players selected to face our visitors are again a reflection of what I see to be the right balance of personnel for the challenge we face in this game," Borthwick said.
"Marcus Smith starts at fly-half and Dave Ribbans returns to the matchday 23," he added, dispensing with the twin playmaker role that former coach Eddie Jones had hoped would come good.
"Congratulations to Ellis Genge who will captain the side for the first time. Ellis will lead from the front with the sort of dedication and spirit that now rightly typifies this England team."
Smith was initially released from Borthwick's training squad last month to get game time with his Premiership side Harlequins.
The 24-year-old impressed in a 40-5 win over Exeter Chiefs last Saturday and he is set for his first England start since their opening round defeat by Scotland.
England are third in the standings after three matches, five points behind leaders Ireland who host Borthwick's side in the final round.
Meanwhile, France centre Jonathan Danty will make his comeback from injury against England.
Danty, who had suffered a serious knee injury, is back earlier than expected and is "red hot" for the test, coach Fabien Galthie told a news conference.
Danty will pair up with Gael Fickou, pushing Yoram Moefana to the bench for Saturday's clash. "Yoram can be a finisher at centre but can also play on the wing," said Galthie.
In the back row, Francois Cros replaces the injured Anthony Jelonch while suspended prop Mohamed Haouas, who was sent off in the 32-21 win against Scotland in Paris, makes way for Dorian Aldegheri.
France will be without replacement fly-half Matthieu Jalibert, who sustained an injury in training on Wednesday.
"An MRI showed a lesion on his ankle. We will know how long he is out for after further examinations," said team general manager Raphael Ibanez.
France have not won at Twickenham in the Six Nations since beating England 21-15 in 2007.
"It gives England a lot of reasons to be confident," said Ibanez. France are fourth in the standings, level on 10 points with third-placed England after both teams lost one of three games.
Depending on the result of this game and Ireland's clash with Scotland on Sunday, Andy Farrell's men could win the title.
England: Freddie Steward; Max Malins, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Anthony Watson; Marcus Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Ellis Genge (capt), Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum; Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis, Alex Dombrandt.
Replacements: Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, David Ribbans, Ben Curry, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell, Henry Arundell.
France: Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Ethan Dumortier; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (capt); Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Dorian Aldegheri; Thibaud Flament, Paul Willemse; Francois Cros, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Reda Wardi, Sipili Falatea, Romain Taofifenua, Sekou Macalou, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Melvyn Jaminet.
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