England v France LIVE: Six Nations 2025 latest score and updates as Steve Borthwick’s side face mighty challenge

A rousing rendition of Jerusalem here at Allianz Stadium. And here come the teams.

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)

Assistant Referees: Andrea Piardi (Ita) & Damian Schneider (Arg)

Television Match Official: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)

Foul Play Review Officer: Marius Jonker (SA)

Antoine Dupont was simply mesmerising on France’s last visit to Twickenham. But what makes the scrum half so good? With the help of Emmanuel Meafou, Cheslin Kolbe, Ben Spencer, Richard Wigglesworth and more, I tried to find out…

Matthieu Jalibert and Romain Ntamack are almost inextricably linked, U20 teammates who have played a significant part in the other’s story as two genuinely excellent fly halves rose through the ranks together. Jalibert was first to make it to the senior set-up before a serious knee injury opened the door for Ntamack’s emergence, with the Toulouse playmaker seizing the shirt.

His ill-timed injury, though, left Jalibert to take control of the World Cup disappointment, and things have since been complex for the Bordeaux-Begles man. With Thomas Ramos preferred in the autumn, he refused to stay with the squad as a travelling reserve, though Fabien Galthie sought to play down talk of a rift between he and his back-up fly half.

When Jalibert was left out last weekend, though, it might have been fair to question what his future held. Yet Ntamack’s suspension necessitates a return, and Galthie insists that there are no lingering tensions.

“Matthieu is an example of a top quality player who has experienced good and bad moments. He’s had injuries, psychological ones and physical ones. This example is the same for every player.

“Our method was to give the player space, for him to re-energise. The objective is always to be better. His option was to leave the closed-off squad, which is very unique. We had a discussion. There was no scandal, there is no scandal.

“The work was done, together, by Matthieu, his club and us to make sure he came back and was able to be picked. Today, we can pick Matthieu, and we didn’t want to create a power struggle and lose a player who has potential like him.”

A first start for Fin Smith, a role rethink for Marcus Smith and another back row shuffle – one cannot deny that Steve Borthwick has been bold with his selection. But there is logic to each of his calls:

With Romain Ntamack suspended after his sending off against Wales, Matthieu Jalibert returns to the France side at fly half as one of two changes. A fit-again Damian Penaud replaces Theo Attissogbe on the wing, with two tries in the opener not enough for the Pau youngster to remain in the matchday 23. Thibaud Flament remains out, so Alexandre Roumat remains in the second row. Fabien Galthie was rumoured to be considering tweaks to his bench but it is the same group of impact replacements.

France XV: 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Uini Atonio; 4 Alexandre Roumat, 5 Emmanuel Meafou; 6 Francois Cros, 7 Paul Boudehent, 8 Gregory Alldritt; 9 Antoine Dupont (capt.), 10 Matthieu Jalibert; 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 14 Damian Penaud; 15 Thomas Ramos.

Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Mickael Guillard, 21 Oscar Jegou; 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Emilien Gailleton.

Marcus Smith is shifted to full-back by Steve Borthwick as Fin Smith is handed a first international start at fly half, with Freddie Steward dropped entirely from the squad. Tom Willis is called in to the starting back row as Ben Earl slides across to seven, while Ollie Sleightholme is the beneficiary of an unfortunate injury to last week’s debutant, Cadan Murley. A 6/2 bench split is again favoured by the England coach, matching their opponents, with Jamie George and Elliot Daly adding a bit of extra experience.

England XV: 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Will Stuart; 4 Maro Itoje (capt.), 5 George Martin; 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Tom Willis; 9 Alex Mitchell, 10 Fin Smith; 11 Tom Roebuck, 12 Henry Slade, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Tommy Freeman; 15 Marcus Smith.

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Ben Curry; 22 Harry Randall, 23 Elliot Daly.

A club legend as a player, Murphy endured a difficult time as a coach at the club and appears not to have seen eye-to-eye with the now-England boss during his latter months at the club.

The ex-Ireland full-back has claimed that Borthwick made it clear that he did not wish to be Murphy’s friend on arrival at Welford Road, and believes he shares similarities with his former England mentor Jones.

England players have insisted, though, that the environment has improved dramatically since Borthwick’s arrival.

There was significant news for England away from the Six Nations on Thursday as Bath confirmed the signing of Henry Arundell from Racing 92, bringing an eye-catching talent back to the Premiership. The youngster will be back available for national selection in the summer – will Steve Borthwick take him on the tour of the United States and Argentina?

This year is the last of the joint agreement between the BBC and ITV to show the Six Nations in the United Kingdom. There is much uncertainty over the future of the competition, as we explore in depth here: