The Bank of England looks set to cut interest rates on Thursday for only the third time since just after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as it juggles the need to help the sluggish economy with still-strong inflation pressures.

Interest rates are expected to be cut by the Bank of England later, in a move closely watched by households and economists. Analysts predict the benchmark rate will be cut from 4.75% to 4.5%, as the Bank comes under pressures to boost the UK economy which has been showing slow growth.

A CNBC report revealed that economists are betting on the Bank of England cutting rates by 25 basis points from 4.75% to 4.5% in the Thursday Monetary Policy Committee meeting. The expected rate cuts come as the UK economy continues to stagnate,

Fin Smith is under consideration for a first Test start as England look to bounce back from a seventh defeat in nine games

France flyhalf Romain Ntamack will miss this weekend's Six Nations match with England after his red card against Wales was upheld by an independent disciplinary committee on Wednesday. Ntamack picked up a yellow card for a shoulder-to-head tackle on Ben Thomas late in France's 43-0 drubbing of Wales in their opening Six Nations fixture on Friday,