England head coach Steve Borthwick has thrown five uncapped players into the deep end for Friday night’s non-cap showdown against France XV in Vannes — and handed the captaincy to veteran fly-half George Ford.
Ford, the Sale Sharks playmaker earning his 100th Test cap in spirit if not in official record, will steer a side that mixes established stars with fresh faces. The match kicks off England’s summer campaign and serves as a tune-up before July’s Nations Championship Tests against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina.
Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs players were unavailable after their Premiership final commitments, which opened the door for a handful of younger prospects.
Who Are the New Faces?
Noah Caluori and George Kloska crack the starting XV. Caluori lines up on the wing; Kloska packs down at tighthead prop. On the bench, Vilikesa Sela, Jack Kenningham, and South African-born Benhard Janse van Rensburg await their first taste of senior England action.
Marcus Smith slots in at fullback, a move that gives him space to orchestrate from deep. Cadan Murley joins Caluori on the flank, while Max Ojomoh and Seb Atkinson pair up in the centers — a combination that promises attacking spark rather than just safety-first defense.
At halfback, Harry Randall partners Ford. The back row features Alex Dombrandt, Tom Curry, and Ted Hill — a unit that blends power, poach threat, and lineout athleticism. George Martin and Charlie Ewels lock the scrum, with Theo Dan hooking and Asher Opoku-Fordjour at loosehead. It marks Opoku-Fordjour’s first start for an England senior side since the England A match against Australia in November 2024.
Borthwick opted for a five-forward, three-back split on the bench — a sign that the coaching staff expects a physical battle up front. Jamie Blamire, Beno Obano, Nick Isiekwe, and Kenningham provide the forward cover, with Raffi Quirke, Janse van Rensburg, and Adam Radwan offering backline depth.
“We’re looking forward to an exciting challenge against a strong French team in what will be a demanding fixture,” Borthwick said. “I’m eager to see this group get out there and show what they’re capable of. It’s a great opportunity to keep developing our game in the lead-up to the forthcoming Nations Championship.”
France XV, though not the full national side, will bring intensity — especially in Vannes, where the home crowd treats every England visit as a grudge match. The fixture allows Borthwick to test combinations and assess fringe players under live fire, without the weight of World Rugby ranking points.
Fans online noted the absence of any handling errors from the Premiership finalists, but also pointed out that the uncapped quintet has a genuine shot to impress before the tougher tests in July. If England struggles in the set piece or fails to adapt to French tempo, the conversation will shift quickly from development to scrutiny.
England XV to face France XV: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Noah Caluori, 13 Max Ojomoh, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 George Ford (c), 9 Harry Randall; 1 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2 Theo Dan, 3 George Kloska, 4 Charlie Ewels, 5 George Martin, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Alex Dombrandt. Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Jack Kenningham, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 23 Adam Radwan.
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