England have named Joe Marler on the bench for Saturday's Grand Slam match against France in Paris after making two changes to their starting line-up.
Mako Vunipola is preferred to Marler at loosehead prop and Danny Care replaces Ben Youngs at scrum-half in the only adjustments as the newly-crowned RBS 6 Nations champions seek to complete a first clean sweep since 2003.
Marler was cleared to play at the Stade de France late on Wednesday evening after escaping sanction from the rugby judiciary for striking one Wales prop — Rob Evans — and verbally abusing a second by calling Samson Lee “gypsy boy”.
Despite the 25-year-old’s unexpected availability — he pleaded guilty to both offences that occurred in the first half of last weekend’s 25-21 victory at Twickenham — he must settle for a spot among the replacements.
“We’ve picked our best 23 who we know can get the job done in Paris,” head coach Eddie Jones said.
“Everyone wants to be on the field this Saturday so selection was nip and tuck. Danny Care starts at scrum-half with Ben Youngs finishing the game. Mako Vunipola comes in at loosehead for Joe Marler who will make an impact off the bench.”
Dylan Hartley will lead the side at the Stade de France despite fears he might be carrying an injury having missed Tuesday afternoon’s training session. Sale hooker Tommy Taylor is present as a travelling reserve, however.
A stellar display by Maro Itoje against Wales in which the 21-year-old lock finished man of the match keeps Joe Launchbury on the bench, where Manu Tuilagi is present once again.
Marler and Vunipola have been nip and tuck throughout the championship in their quest to be considered first-choice loosehead — Jones insists there is no pecking order between the two — so the former’s demotion in light of this week’s disciplinary issues is unsurprising.
Raising eyebrows, however, is Youngs losing his place in the starting XV despite producing one of his finest displays for England against Wales.
A thrilling victory over Warren Gatland's men, combined with Scotland's win against France, resulted in England claiming their first Six Nations title for five years, but the ultimate prize is on offer in Paris on Saturday.
“While we are pleased to have already won the championship, we don’t want to let our foot off the gas,” Jones said.
“The objective has always been to win every game, to be the most dominant team in Europe, so it’s been very important for us to approach this week with the same level of intensity we have shown in previous weeks.
“I’m pleased with how we have prepared and with the focus the squad have shown.
“You can’t underestimate any team in Test match rugby. France are a dangerous side, but we go to Paris full of confidence and a hunger to get the win.”
England: M Brown (Harlequins); A Watson (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), J Nowell (Exeter); G Ford (Bath), D Care (Harlequins); M Vunipola (Saracens), D Hartley (Northampton, capt), D Cole (Leicester), M Itoje (Saracens), G Kruis (Saracens), C Robshaw (Harlequins), J Haskell (Wasps), B Vunipola (Saracens). Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), J Marler (Harlequins), K Brookes (Northampton), J Launchbury (Wasps), J Clifford (Harlequins), B Youngs (Leicester), M Tuilagi (Leicester), E Daly (Wasps).
