England vs France LIVE rugby: Latest updates from Six Nations clash at Twickenham as Marcus Smith starts, Owen Farrell dropped

Ben O’Keeffe whistles – England vs France runs!

Marcus Smith will start the biggest day of his career in England. France gathers, ready to receive the opening skyward elevator.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)

ARs: Jaco Peyper (SARU) & Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Both sides wear matching white anthem jackets and stand proud as the first notes of “La Marseillaise” sound. Twickenham is full to the brim, the traveling support makes itself felt melodically.

“God Save the Queen” follows – it’s crunch time.

Leading England out of the tunnel as captain for the first time, Ellis Genge is brimming with energy, anger, focus and fire as ever as he strides out after eyeing the French side to his right. Antoine Dupont at his side is also looking forward to it, with club mates Cyril Baille and Julien Marchand just behind him.

France showed great confidence yesterday as they got to work in an extensive final training session on the Twickenham pitch. This is the only undefeated territory for this brilliant young side in their development under Fabien Galthie – and this feels as good as ever for them to end their Twickenham woes.

Marcus Smith was understandably the talk of the town on the train today – this is a huge opportunity and test for the flying half.

A former England center has a theory about Smith’s rise to the starting XI…

The French team were previously greeted on the surface at Twickenham by a huge roar, indicative of the French’s penchant for being on the pitches early, and by a large crowd of fans jumping across the channel.

It used to be strangely spring-like in Twickenham, the sun continuing to warm heads already covered in wool at the temperature expected tonight. But the wind and rain that at one point threatened to make this a slightly awkward event has not materialized and both sides are content enough in shorts as they go through their final warm-up.

France disappear into the tunnel first while England huddle together before following their opponents back to the dressing room.

Lewis Ludlam has endorsed the promotion of “Mad Dog” Ellis Genge to England captain after recalling a bloody battle against the Bristol prop as a teenager in school rugby.

Genge was handed managerial duties after Owen Farrell was demoted to the bench for the penultimate round of the Guinness Six Nations against France in Twickenham on Saturday.

It completes the fiery 28-year-old’s rise from council housing in Bristol to the pinnacle of English football, and in Ludlam he has a team-mate who will be happy to follow him in ‘Le Crunch’.

“Ellis is a brilliant skipper. He’s playing with his heart on his sleeve,” said Northampton flanker Ludlam. “When he speaks, it’s convincing, people can stand behind him. He’s someone you want to fight for, someone you want to fight for.”