England bank on youth

England wing Jack Nowell may have been refused entrance to an 18 certificate film on Wednesday night, but Stuart Lancaster insists he is part of an untested trio that is ready for the Stade de France.

Nowell and outside centre Luther Burrell will win their first caps in tomorrow’s Six Nations clash with France, while Jonny May makes his second international appearance on the left wing. It is a bold selection that Lancaster has based on “consistency, form and potential” and the head coach is convinced the three will enter a pivotal Championship opener in Paris unburdened by fear.

The three-quarter line contains only nine caps, eight of which belong to Billy Twelvetrees, and England’s willingness to give youth its head was evident at a cinema local to the squad’s Surrey training base 12 hours before the team was announced.