France vs England, Six Nations 2024: Kick-off time, TV channel, live stream, team news, lineups, odds today
Both France and England will tonight hope to step out onto the pitch in the 2024 Six Nations finale still with a chance to lift the trophy.
The Red Rose’s barnstorming win over Ireland last weekend left the door ajar for themselves, plus Les Bleus and Scotland, to maybe sneak in and cause one of the biggest last-day shocks in the tournament’s history.
Of course, Ireland are enormous favourites to slam that door firmly shut before kick-off in Lyon when they face the Scots in Dublin in the early evening start on Saturday.
Should Scotland defeat the Irish, particularly without letting them grab a vital bonus point, then the race will be on to snatch first place at the death.
France enter the last weekend having lately piled on the points against a young Wales team in a dominant second half and been very lucky to draw with Italy, while England had battled with inconsistencies of their own before their stunning last-gasp defeat of Ireland sealed by Marcus Smith’s dramatic drop goal.
France vs England date, kick-off time and venue
France vs England takes place on Saturday March 16, 2024, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm GMT today.
The final match on Six Nations Super Saturday will be held at Groupama Stadium in Lyon.
England beat Ireland in stunning fashion thanks to Marcus Smith’s drop goal
Action Images via Reuters
How to watch France vs England
TV channel: France vs England is being broadcast live and free-to-air in the UK on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 7:20pm after the conclusion of Ireland vs Scotland from Dublin on the same channel.
Live stream: A live stream service can be accessed for free online via the ITVX app and ITVX website.
Live blog: Standard Sport’s match blog, featuring expert analysis from our rugby correspondent Nick Purewal in France.
France vs England team news
Fabien Galthie’s gamble of handing Toulouse lock Emmanuel Meafou, Bordeaux centre Nicolas Depoortere and Stade Francais back Leo Barre their debuts against Wales as three of eight changes paid off and they keep their places against England along with Nolann Le Garrec, who was superb replacing Maxime Lucu at scrum-half in the absence of Antoine Dupont.
Centre Jonathan Danty remains banned following his red card against Italy and Les Bleus are unchanged for this weekend’s game, including on the bench, with the likes of Matthieu Jalibert still sidelined. Usual full-back Thomas Ramos continues at fly-half.
Henry Slade also gets the nod having returned to training after he was taken off hurt during the Ireland win.
Marcus Smith’s match-winning cameo off the bench has not been enough to oust George Ford at fly-half, with Steve Borthwick keeping faith with the setup that won last time out.
France vs England lineups
France XV: Barre; Penaud, Fickou, Depoortere, Bielle-Biarrey; Ramos, Le Garrec; Baille, Marchand, Atonio; Flament, Meafou; Cros, Ollivon, Alldritt (c)
Replacements: Mauvaka, S Taofifenua, Colombe, R Taofifenua, Roumat, Boudehent, Lucu, Moefana
England XV: Furbank; Freeman, Slade, Lawrence, Daly; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, George (c), Cole; Itoje, Martin; Chessum, Underhill, Earl
Replacements: Dan, Marler, Stuart, Roots, Dombrandt, Care, Smith, Tuilagi
France have had their ups and downs in this tournament
France vs England head to head (h2h) history and results
England were crushed 53-10 by France at Twickenham in last year’s Six Nations to end a seven-game streak of the home team winning this fixture. That also stands as the largest margin of victory in the fixture’s history.
Danny Care and Dan Cole ran in early tries when the Red Rose last won on French soil, as they wrapped up a Grand Slam in the 2016 tournament.
France vs England prediction
This match presents a big question as to which of these teams is the real deal, which can stake their claim to be Ireland’s biggest challenger in next year’s Six Nations.
A big shock in Dublin would swing the door open but otherwise this is expected to be a fight to be the best of the rest, and perhaps one or both sides would struggle to motivate themselves if the last lingering hope of lifting the trophy is taken from them moments before kick-off.
Replicating the win over Ireland will set England up as the favourites against a porous French side missing talismanic leader Antoine Dupont but Borthwick has struggled to get his team firing away from Twickenham of late. Such inconsistency in their game may lead to this opportunity passing them by.
France to win, by five points.
France vs England match odds
France to win the Six Nations: 150/1
England to win the Six Nations: 22/1
