After a successful run out for his club in the Guinness Premiership last weekend, Newcastle Falcons fly-half Toby Flood rejoins the squad with valuable game time under his belt following his return from injury. Fully recovered from a recent knock Bath hooker Chris Brooker also returns. 

Mallinder said: “Any trip out to France will be very demanding. We know this will be a very competitive game, they have put in some big scores in their three games so far."

With every player under consideration fit to play next weekend, Mallinder added: “We’ve seen some very good performances on the pitch already and when we add in the players returning to the squad we’ve got some important decisions about our starting 15 to make.

“It’s a great position to be in though, we’re building up a good squad of players. Strength in depth is an important factor in any tournament situation and we’ve got two more important Six Nations matches and the IRB U21 World Championships in June still to come.” 

With both teams going in to this encounter unbeaten, the match is likely to prove critical to either nation’s Six Nations ambitions.  

The squad will assemble for training at its Teddington base on Monday.   

ENGLAND U21s

FORWARDS

Richard Blaze – Worcester Warriors
Neil Briggs – Sale Sharks
Chris Brooker – Bath Rugby
Sean Cox – Sale Sharks
Jordan Crane – Leeds Tykes
Tom Croft – Leicester Tigers
Dylan Hartley – Northampton Saints
James Haskell – London Wasps
Michael Hills – Sale Sharks
Mark Lambert – NEC Harlequins
Chris Robshaw – NEC Harlequins
Alex Rogers – NEC Harlequins
David Wilson – Newcastle Falcons

BACKS

Nick Abendanon – Bath Rugby
Anthony Allen – Gloucester
Mike Brown – NEC Harlequins
Matt Cornwell – Leicester Tigers
Thom Evans – London Wasps
Toby Flood – Newcastle Falcons
Ben Foden – Sale Sharks
Shane Geraghty – London Irish
Ryan Lamb – Gloucester
Topsy Ojo – London Irish
Nick Runciman – Worcester Warriors