HENRY SLADE will become the first former Plymouth College pupil to play for England since Paul Ackford 24 years ago.

The Plymouth-born 22-year-old will earn his first international cap against France at Twickenham on Saturday.

Exeter Chiefs utility back Slade will start at 13, with his club team-mate and fellow former Plymouth Albion player Luke Cowan-Dickie named on the bench. Cowan-Dickie, like Slade, is uncapped.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster is using the game to try and finalise his World Cup squad.

He said: “We are really excited to play our first QBE International at Twickenham and to put into practice some what we have been working on for the last six weeks.

“The lads are itching to get out and play a match and these games give us a chance to look at a wide range of players and combinations before we narrow down our selection further.

“I’m delighted for the new caps and for Ben Morgan, who has worked so hard to get back to fitness following his injury.”

Forward Ackford played for England between 1988 and 1991.

ENGLAND TEAM

15 Alex Goode (Saracens, 17 caps)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)
13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
12 Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
11 Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 13 caps)
10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 29 caps)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 21 caps)
1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 20 caps)
2 Rob Webber (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
3 Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
4 George Kruis (Saracens, 7 caps)
5 Geoff Parling (Exeter Chiefs, 23 caps)
6 Tom Wood (capt, Northampton Saints, 36 caps)
7 Calum Clark (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
8 Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, 27 caps)
Replacements

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
17 Alex Corbisiero (Northampton Saints, 19 caps)
18 David Wilson (Bath Rugby, 41 caps)
19 Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
20 James Haskell (Wasps, 58 caps)
21 Danny Care (Harlequins, 50 caps)
22 Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks, 12 caps)
23 Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby, 20 caps)