England vs France Prediction, Odds and Lineups: Two bets for Saturday's Six Nations showdown

There’s always fireworks when rivals England and France go head-to-head and again there’s plenty of intrigue surrounding Saturday’s (16:45, ITV1) showdown at Allianz Stadium.

France enjoyed the perfect start to the 2025 Six Nations with an impressive 43-0 bonus-point win over Wales in Saint-Denis on the opening night of the tournament.

A resolute defensive display combined with some smart and ruthless attacking rugby, head coach Fabien Galthie will have been quietly pleased with what he witnessed against Warren Gatland’s Wales.

Those standards will need to be maintained when France head across the Channel this weekend for a showdown with England at Allianz Stadium.

The French will have fond memories of their last visit to Rugby HQ, as Les Bleus earned a 53-10 victory over the English in 2023.

England head into this game on the back of a 27-22 defeat against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, in a match Steve Borthwick’s side again failed to capitalise on a positive start.

The Red Rose are making an unwanted habit of losing tight games late in the contest and France look like they have the strength on the pitch and on the bench to triumph again in London, while also covering the -7.5 handicap.

One of the best full-backs in world rugby, Thomas Ramos is likely to be a key figure in Saturday’s showdown between these great rivals.

An unbelievable goal-kicker, who makes the task look incredibly easy, the boot of Ramos will be a dangerous weapon for Les Bleus this weekend.

However, Ramos is far more than a glorified goal-kicker and his running in the wide channels should cause England plenty of problems at Allianz Stadium.

Ramos scored the opening try of the game the last time France faced England in London and the Toulouse star catches the eye at 9/2 to bag another try against the Red Rose on this occasion.

England vs France Odds

England vs France Lineups

England

Borthwick has made a big call at fly-half for this game, with Marcus Smith being moved to full-back and Northampton Saints stand-off Fin Smith coming into the No.10 jersey.

Fellow Northampton star Ollie Sleightholme also comes into the back division, as he replaces the injured Cadan Murley who had a difficult game against the Irish in Dublin last time out.

Meanwhile, England’s pack has been boosted by the return of Ben Earl. He joins a back-row that includes number eight Tom Willis and flanker Tom Curry.

England Lineup: Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Sleightholme; Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje, Martin, Curry, Earl, Willis.

Replacements: George, Baxter, Heyes, Chessum, Cunningham-South, Curry, Randall, Daly.

France

As for France, the suspension for Romain Ntamack following his red card against Wales means Matthieu Jalibert starts at fly-half.

There were some suggestions that Ramos could be used at No.10, where he has been deployed by France in the past, but he remains at full-back and the talented Jalibert gets another opportunity to orchestrate this French backline.

Prolific winger Damian Penaud returns to the starting XV and adds even more threat in the wide channels for the visitors.

France Lineup: Ramos; Penaud, Barassi, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Dupont; Gros, Mauvaka, Atonio, Roumat, Meafou, Cros, Boudehent, Alldritt.

Replacements: Marchand, Baille, Colombe, Auradou, Guillard, Jegou, Le Garrec, Gailleton