A big summer of international rugby gets underway with an uncapped clash between England and France in Vannes.
This is the second year in a row that the two teams have met in this sort of curtain-raiser, which this time precedes the launch of the inaugural Nations Championship in July.
While no caps will be awarded, there is plenty of quality on show with both Steve Borthwick and Fabien Galthie using the opportunity to blend youth and experience.
It should serve as usual preparation for each ahead of the more important stuff to come.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is France XV vs England XV?
The uncapped international is set to kick off at 5.15pm BST on Friday 19 June at the Stade de la Rabine in Vannes.
How can I watch it?
A live stream of the game will be provided on Rugby Pass TV.
Team news
France’s most experienced figures are each from Bordeaux-Begles, with the European champions’ surprise failure to qualify for the Top 14 play-offs enabling Fabien Galthie to select Jefferson Poirot and Yoram Moefana, among others. Mickael Guillard, a star of the last two Six Nations campaigns, captains from the second row alongside Tom Staniforth, once of Australia U20s but now well settled at Castres.
There is familiarity in the halves with La Rochelle’s Nolann Le Garrec and Antoine Hastoy paired, and likely to cause England plenty of problems.
England hand first opportunities to Noah Caluori – fresh from topping the try-scoring charts at Saracens – and Benhard Janse van Rensburg, not eligible for the nation until 8 July but able to feature in this uncapped fixture. Captain George Ford steers the side from fly half in playmaking partnership with Marcus Smith, while George Kloska earns a chance on the tighthead.
The selection of Tom Curry is a surprise given the flanker’s injury history, and the warning from Sale Sharks coach Alex Sanderson that his player should be rested entirely this summer to prolong his career.
Line-ups
France XV: 1 Jefferson Poirot, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 3 Sipili Falatea; 4 Mickael Guillard (capt.), 5 Tom Staniforth; 6 Temo Matiu, 7 Esteban Capilla, 8 Marko Gazzotti; 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 10 Antoine Hastoy; 11 Gregoire Arfeuil, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Nicolas Depoortete, 14 Christian Ambadiang; 15 Theo Attissogbe.
Replacements: 16 Barnabe Massa, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Boris Palu, 20 Killian Tixeront; 21 Baptiste Jauneau, 22 Axel Desperes, 23 Fabien Brau-Boirie.
England XV: 1 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2 Theo Dan, 3 George Kloska; 4 Charlie Ewels, 5 George Martin; 6 Ted Hill, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Alex Dombrandt; 9 Harry Randall, 10 George Ford (capt.); 11 Cadan Murley, 12 Seb Atkinson, 13 Max Ojomoh, 14 Noah Caluori; 15 Marcus Smith.
Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Jack Kenningham; 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 23 Adam Radwan.
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