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Same again for England starting XV

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Five Leicester Tigers have been named in the England matchday squad for Sunday's RBS 6 Nations match against France in Paris.

The starting line-up is unchanged from the defeat against Wales, with two changes on the bench – Tom Palmer replaces Courtney Lawes, and Charlie Hodgson takes over from Leicester’s Toby Flood.

Tigers back-rower Tom Croft wins his 35th cap and he is joined in the team by club colleague Dan Cole, Geoff Parling and Manu Tuilagi, with Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs among the replacements.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We’ve had a good week following on from the Loughborough training camp and the players have been very positive and focused. We were really disappointed to lose to Wales but we took a lot out of the performance and felt it was right to pick the same starting team to go to Paris.

“It will be a massive challenge going to the Stade de France and playing against an experienced an unbeaten French side but we are excited about the opportunity and want to do the country proud."

England (v France away, Sunday)
15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
12 Brad Barritt (Saracens)
11 David Strettle (Saracens)
10 Owen Farrell (Saracens)
9 Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
1 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4 Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
5 Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)

7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins) (c)
8 Ben Morgan (Scarlets)

Replacements
16 Rob Webber (London Wasps)
17 Matt Stevens (Saracens)
18 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
19 Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
20 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
21 Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)
22 Mike Brown (Harlequins)