Six Nations 2014: Jack Nowell and Luther Burrell Handed England Debuts Against France

Stuart Lancaster has handed debuts to Jack Nowell and Luther Burrell for England's Six Nations opener against France in Paris on Saturday.

Jonny May replaces Chris Ashton on the wing while George Ford is forced to wait for his elite squad debut as Owen Farrell is selected as the sole fly-half.

Would-be debutants Anthony Watson and Ford will join England in Paris alongside Matt Mullan as reserve players.

Joel Tomkins, Ben Foden, Geoff Parling and David Wilson all miss out from the autumn defeat to New Zealand through injury, while Manu Tuilagi is among a host of players unavailable for the majority of the championship.

Lancaster said: "We can't wait for Saturday. We've had a good two weeks and all the players have pushed hard for selection.

"Congratulations to Jack and Luther who deserve their chance, as does Jonny May starting his first RBS 6 Nations game. It's good to see Brad back and it's good to have his experience and leadership in the 23, while Alex Goode will give us good cover at 15 and 10.

"We felt the pack went well in the autumn and it's right to leave it unchanged but we have some quality players, including two British and Irish Lions in Tom and Mako, to come on."

Captained by flanker Chris Robshaw, England open their campaign without British and Irish Lions scrum half Ben Youngs and Ashton after they were dropped from Lancaster's initial 26-man travelling party.

Nowell, the leading scorer in this year's Heineken Cup, has had a successful season with Exeter Chiefs and the 20 year old has impressed Lancaster with his recent progress.

Northampton Saints centre Burrell, who will also win his first cap at the Stade de France, is well-known to Lancaster who first came across the 26-year-old in his teens while at Huddersfield at an elite player development centre.

The only real change to Lancaster's squad for the Six Nations, other than those necessary through injury, was the inclusion of Ford.

The 20-year-old was brought into the squad to replace Toby Flood, who is soon to depart for Toulouse, in turn ruling out his inclusion in the national side however the Bath fly-half is forced to wait for his international debut.

Forwards: Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw, Billy Vunipola.

Backs: Danny Care, Owen Farrell, Jonny May, Billy Twelvetrees, Luther Burrell, Jack Nowell, Mike Brown.

Replacements: Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Henry Thomas, David Attwood, Ben Morgan, Lee Dickson, Brad Barritt, Alex Goode.