Wigan's Chris Ashton a surprise inclusion in England RU side

Nowell impressed through his work-rate and carrying in the remarkable 32-20 victory over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium but has lost his place 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 try-scoring record of 24 touch downs 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.

"Jack Nowell was brilliant against Ireland and he'll play a significant role for us off the bench."

Ex-Orrell St James junior Ashton, who started his professional career with Wigan Warriors, is like captain Owen Farrell a former student at St John Fisher.

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 of the tournament but Jones revealed he back sooner than expected from his grade two medial ligament tear.

"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.

"We have got great depth in the squad so Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes will fill his shoes very well."

Apart from the presence of Nowell and Launchbury, there are two more changes to the bench in the shape of props Dan Cole and Ben Moon who have displaced Harry Williams and Ellis Genge.