Away from the pitch, a "new era" for rugby is coming apparently.

That is what Six Nation boss Ben Morel said after confirmation that private equity giants CVC had taken a 14% share in the Six Nations in a deal worth £365 million.

Morel insists CVC and the Six Nations have a "shared vision" for the sport's future, and that moving the Championship off free-to-air TV in order to maximise revenue is not a foregone conclusion.

You can read more about the deal and its implications for unions here.

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Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

Is changing the full-back, bringing Max Malins in for Elliot Daly, going to make a big difference to the England attack?

For me, if you are going to make changes you have to make changes in the spine of the team.

You have to change the decision-makers. You have to bring new blood into 8-9-10 if you are going to see fundamental changes.

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Twickenham

Some of the first team tracksuits to emerge after the team buses' arrival belong to the match analysts.

France's number-crunchers plug in their laptops ready to provide real-time insights to the coaching staff. And a few seats up, their England counterparts are also setting up.

It is not all been coffee and croissants in the French camp.

Perhaps the biggest news of this year's championship so far has been the coronavirus outbreak among Fabien Galthie's side.

The France head coach left their bubble to watch his son play rugby on the opening weekend and players were also seen out for waffles before their game in Rome.

Eventually Galthie was one of a number of staff to contract the virus and among the players star scrum-half Antoine Dupont and captain Charles Ollivon tested positive.

The French Federation eventually found there was no wrongdoing, but we will see today what effect a month without a match and a period of isolation has had on the players.

Image source, Getty Images

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Twickenham

There has been a lot of talk this week about etiquette. How to speak to referees, how to win the battle for the officials' hearts, minds and decisions.

The French certainly look like they are minding their manners as they come out for a briefing with Andrew Brace.

Captain Charles Ollivon and his front-row offer up fistbumps and good wishes.

After England's win in the Autumn Nations Cup final here in December, the visitors said they were not best impressed with Brace's performance. Will they be happy at the end of this 80 minutes?

France's backline is an even more daunting prospect than usual as centre Virimi Vakatawa returns from injury.

Teddy Thomas replaces the injured Gabin Villiere on the wing and Romain Taofifenua comes into the second row in place of Bernard le Roux.

Returning fly-half Romain Ntamack does not make it into the starting XV, where Matthieu Jalibert remains at 10.

In the back row, Dylan Cretin is promoted ahead of Anthony Jelonch.

France: Dulin; Thomas, Vakatawa, Fickou, Penaud; Jalibert, Dupont; Baille, Marchand, Haouas; Taofifenua, Willemse; Cretin, Ollivon (capt), Alldritt.

Replacements: Chat, Gros, Aldegheri, Cazeaux, Woki, Jelonch, Serin, Ntamack.

Image source, Getty Images

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Twickenham

A real meteological melting pot in south London today.

The flags are straining at their poles on the top of the North stand, while the sky is dirtier than a burger van dishcloth. Big, moody clouds are threatening to dump rain all over this parade.

More emphasis on boot than hand for Jones and Galthie if the heavens do open?

Eddie Jones has relented and made a few tweaks to the side that lost to Wales, giving Max Malins a first start at full-back.

The 24-year-old pushes his more experienced team-mate Elliot Daly to the bench.

Luke Cowan-Dickie gets his second start of the tournament at hooker, with Jamie George among the replacements.

Charlie Ewels is in the second row in place of Jonny Hill and centre Ollie Lawrence is back in the matchday 23.

England: Malins; Watson, Slade, Farrell, May; Ford, Youngs; M Vunipola, Cowan-Dickie, Sinckler, Itoje, Ewels, Wilson, Curry, B Vunipola.

Replacements: George, Genge, Stuart, Hill, Earl, Robson, Lawrence, Daly.

Image source, Getty Images

Empty house or not, excitement levels are high enough that France have whipped out a cat gif.

Let's have a look at the line-ups for today.

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Twickenham

The last full-house home match at Twickenham was a year and a week ago - a 33-30 win over Wales on 7 March 2020.

And it still feels a long way from returning to normal.

There is probably a bigger crowd over the way at the Twickenham Stoop - the home of Harlequins - which opened its doors as a Covid vaccination centre last month.

You get your jab in the Chris Robshaw Bar by the way...

In Paris last year, England secured a losing bonus point that eventually helped them win the tournament.

That won't fly this time around, though. The defending champions' title hopes were all but ended with defeat to Wales in round three.

After beginning the 2021 Six Nations by losing to Scotland, Jones' side are looking to find form more than anything else now.

It looks like Wales are extending their lead at the top of the table even further over in Rome.

Image source, BBC Sport

A year ago England, fresh from World Cup semi-final defeat, kicked off their Six Nations campaign with a shock loss to France in front of a rapturous Parisian crowd.

Image source, Getty Images

Now, Eddie Jones' struggling side are arguably underdogs as they welcome a Grand Slam-chasing French team to an empty Twickenham.

Image source, Getty Images

What a difference a year makes.