Geoff Parling has been recalled to the England starting lineup to face France in the last match of the Six Nations on Saturday.

He replaces Bath’s Dave Attwood, who is dropped altogether from the 23, in the second row in the only change from the 25-13 defeat of Scotland.

Parling returned to the bench for the first time in two years at Twickenham and came on as a replacement for Attwood in the 51st minute.

The head coach Stuart Lancaster has recalled Nick Easter to the bench to provide lock cover among the replacements as England aim to clinch a first championship since 2011.

Dan Cole, left, wins his 50th cap in a front row that includes Dylan Hartley and Joe Marler and has been unchanged throughout the Six Nations. Photograph: fotosportuk

“Geoff did well off the bench against Scotland and now that he has got some games under his belt we feel it is the right time to start him and use his experience and quality in the starting lineup,” Lancaster said.

“The same goes for Nick Easter, who has really impressed in camp and in his appearances off the bench. Nick is a quality ball carrier and great defender – things we feel we’ll need in the latter stages of the game.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest England look ahead to France showdown, says Stuart Lancaster.

The 31-year-old Parling, who is moving to Exeter from Leicester this summer, missed the 2014 Six Nations after having operations on both his shoulders. He was forced out of the third Test in New Zealand last summer with a strained hamstring, sat out the autumn series because of concussion and had a delayed start to this year’s championship after damaging knee ligaments in January.

The tighthead prop Dan Cole wins his 50th cap in a front row that has been unchanged throughout the Six Nations. “It’s a great achievement for Dan to win his 50th cap, especially coming back from his injury last year. He is one of the cornerstones of our squad and we all wish him all the best,” Lancaster said.

France have made two changes from the side who defeated Italy 29-0 in Rome on Sunday which have been brought about through injury.

Jules Plisson replaces Camille Lopez, who sustained a badly bruised knee during Sunday’s triumph, at fly-half while Vincent Debaty comes in at loosehead prop in place of Eddy Ben Arous.

Plisson, who impressed as he came off the bench and scored 10 points against Italy, broke his nose at the Stadio Olimpico but has been passed fit to take on leaders England.

The France coach Philippe Saint-André said: “At Twickenham, I need players that are a 100% fit and Camille was doubtful on Wednesday. Jules has a broken nose but he is determined to play. He’s OK for Saturday.”

Bookmakers view England as favourites to be crowned 2015 Six Nations champions on a nerve-shredding day of staggered kick-offs that conclude at Twickenham.

England team

Brown (Harlequins); Watson (Bath), Joseph (Bath), Burrell (Northampton), Nowell (Exeter); Ford (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester); Marler (Harlequins), Hartley (Northampton), Cole (Leicester), Parling (Leicester), Lawes (Northampton), Haskell (Wasps), Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements T Youngs (Leicester), M Vunipola (Saracens), Brookes (Newcastle), Easter (Harlequins), Wood (Northampton), Wigglesworth (Saracens), Cipriani (Sale), Twelvetrees (Gloucester).

France team

Spedding; Huget, Fickou, Mermoz, Nakaitaci; Plisson, Tillous-Borde; Goujon, Le Roux, Dusautoir, Maestri, Flanquart, Mas, Guirado, Debaty. Replacements Kayser, Slimani, Atonio, Taofifenua, Chouly, Kockott, Tales, Bastareaud.