Eddie Jones’ England will host France at Twickenham on Sunday in the first Autumn Nations Cup Final.
This game will also be England’s first game since March with fans in attendance. Twickenham will welcome 2,000 to the stadium for the final, with the RFU gifting 400 seats to NHS workers to thank them for their hard work.
A victory for the French will be a tough ask, with the final taking place outside of the autumn test window. Meaning many of France’s Under-20 players will be given a promotion to the senior squad for the fixture.
Les Bleus will be missing a number of integral players such as Antoine Dupont who has reached the test limit for the autumn. Leaving head coach Fabien Galthie without 20 front line players.
Whereas England has managed to retain 27 players for the final. Gloucester Rugby Winger Jonny May who has been in great form, is likely to start for England, having featured in all three of the group stage games.
Alfie Barbeary has been called up to the training squad, the forwards first senior call-up. Joe Marchant and Jacob Umaga return from injuries, whilst centre Jonathan Joseph has withdrawn with a calf injury.
Former French international Benjamin Kayser told Rugby Union Weekly “England is a little too far ahead, it is a bit of an impossible task.
“It is a matter of fronting up and showing they can challenge such a good team like England.”
France Training Squad
England Training Squad
Backs
Joe Cokanasiga, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Ollie Lawrence, Max Mills, Joe Marchant, Jonny May, Alex Mitchell, Dan Robson, Henry Slade, Ollie Thorley, Jacob Umaga, Anthony Watson, Ben Youngs
Forwards
Alfie Barbeary, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Charlie Ewles, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Harry Williams, Jack Willis
