Advertisement

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.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW FRANCE VS ENGLAND LIVE!

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)
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: Follow the game live with 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.

Elliot Daly comes in for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso after the young England wing was ruled with concussion after a fine full debut against Ireland, with Tommy Freeman switching to 14.

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.

Manu Tuilagi is back on the bench after groin trouble ahead of what is likely to be his last appearance in an England shirt ahead of a summer exit from the Premiership, while Ethan Roots is also back in the squad in place of the injured Chandler Cunningham-South.

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 (Getty Images)
France have had their ups and downs in this tournament (Getty Images)

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 wins: 43

England wins: 60

Draws: 7

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: 10/11

England to win: 10/11

Draw: 19/1

France to win the Six Nations: 150/1

England to win the Six Nations: 22/1

Odds via Paddy Power (subject to change).