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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
John Evely

Steve Borthwick trims his England squad to 27 ahead of France in the Six Nations

Steve Borthwick has opted to keep Marcus Smith as part of his 27-player squad to prepare for England’s Guinness Six Nations match against France on Saturday, sending George Ford back to Sale Sharks.

Smith was not involved in England's fallow week training camp in Brighton but instead sent back to his club Harlequins where he starred in a stunning 40-5 victory over Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham to walk away with the man of the match medal.

Elsewhere, in the pack Borthwick has suffered a big blow with confirmation Northampton star Courtney Lawes has been withdrawn from the squad with a shoulder injury.

The other seven players sent back to their clubs are Bath's Tom Dunn, Leicester Tigers duo Joe Hayes and Ben Youngs, Saints winger Tommy Freeman, Sale prop Bevan Rodd, Exeter Chiefs number eight Sam Simmonds and Harlequins' uncapped winger Cadan Murley.

England v France kicks off at 4.45pm on Saturday and is live on ITV and BBC Radio 5 Live.

READ MORE: Pat Lam confirms another of Bristol Bears’ ‘rock stars’ is following Semi Radradra out the door

FULL SQUAD
FORWARDS

Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 8 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 98 caps)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 3 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 12 caps)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 15 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 46 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 75 caps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 10 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 65 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 17 caps)
David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 59 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 77 caps)
Jack Walker (Harlequins, 2 caps)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 8 caps)

BACKS
Henry Arundell (London Irish, 5 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 104 caps)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 10 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 17 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 14 caps)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 54 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 20 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 20 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 50 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers, 53 caps)

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