Wasps star Haskell retained

James Haskell retains his place in Brian Ashton’s England team to face France on Friday night.

The former Maidenhead junior star has started both of England’s Six Nations matches so far and keeps his place in the back row alongside Nick Easter and Michael Limpan.

Elsewhere Sale scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth will make his first England start replacing Andy Gomarsall, who drops out of the match-day 22 completely.

Skipper Phil Vickery and fellow prop Andrew Sheridan return to the front row after missing the win in Italy. London Irish scrum-half Paul Hodgson and Leicester flanker Tom Croft have been selected on the bench.

England team: Balshaw (Gloucester); Sackey (Wasps), Noon (Newcastle), Flood (Newcastle), Vainikolo (Gloucester); Wilkinson (Newcastle), Wigglesworth (Sale); Sheridan (Sale Sharks), Regan (Bristol), Vickery (Wasps, capt), Shaw (Wasps), Borthwick (Bath), Haskell (Wasps), Lipman (Bath), Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: Mears (Bath), Stevens (Bath), Kay (Leicester), Croft (Leicester), Hodgson (London Irish), Cipriani (Wasps), Tait (Newcastle).