Saracens wing Noah Caluori and Bristol centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg have been handed their first senior England opportunities in the uncapped clash with a France XV in Vannes.
Teenager Caluori topped the try-scoring charts in the Gallagher Prem this season and will start in the back three on Friday night as he eyes an international debut this summer.
South African-born Janse van Rensburg, meanwhile, is not yet eligible for England but is able to feature in this fixture and is named on the bench by Steve Borthwick in a matchday 23 captained by George Ford.
Tom Curry is a surprise starter in the back row just a few months after club coach Alex Sanderson warned that the injury-prone Sale Sharks flanker’s career will be shortened if he plays this summer.
The clash at the Stade de la Rabine serves as useful preparation for Borthwick and England as they prepare to face South Africa, Fiji and Argentina in a gruelling itinerary as the inaugural Nations Championship launches in July.
Marcus Smith is deployed at full-back in an exciting backline that also features Max Ojomoh, initially left out of Borthwick’s training squad last month.
Tighthead props George Kloska and Vilikesa Sela and flanker Jack Kenningham join Caluori and Janse van Rensburg as an uncapped quintet set for involvement.
There are no players involved from Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs with the pair set to meet in the Prem final at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
England XV to face France XV (Friday 19 June, 5.15pm BST): 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.
