Off to a flyer: Owen Farrell retains the England No 10 after impressing against Wales two weeks ago

STUART LANCASTER has picked an unchanged England starting XV to play France in Paris in the RBS 6 Nations on Sunday afternoon.

The only changes from the England 22 that lost 19-12 to Wales come on the bench with Stade Francais lock Tom Palmer replacing the injured Courtney Lawes and fit-again Charlie Hodgson, the Saracens fly-half, coming in for Toby Flood.

Return: Tom Palmer is in the 22

England have won on two of their last three visits to Paris, 24-13 in the 2008 Six Nations and 14-9 in the 2007 World Cup, and head coach Lancaster is feeling positive about the match as his team look to bounce back from the Wales defeat.

“We’ve had a good week following on from the Loughborough training camp and the players have been very positive and focused,” said Lancaster. “We were really disappointed to lose to Wales but we took a lot out of the performance and felt it was right to pick the same starting team to go to Paris.

“It will be a massive challenge going to the Stade de France and playing against an experienced and unbeaten French side but we are excited about the opportunity and want to do the country proud.”

ENGLAND TEAM TO PLAY FRANCE, SUNDAY 11 MARCH, STADE DE FRANCE

Ben Foden; Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt, David Strettle; Owen Farrell, Lee Dickson; Alex Corbisiero, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Mouritz Botha, Geoff Parling, Tom Croft, Chris Robshaw (captain), Ben Morgan.
Replacements: Rob Webber, Matt Stevens, Tom Palmer, Phil Dowson, Ben Youngs, Charlie Hodgson, Mike Brown.