France head coach Fabien Galthié has made two changes to his starting XV ahead of Saturday’s trip to take on Scotland in Murrayfield (2.15pm).
From Friday’s Six Nations opening round loss to Ireland, Paul Willemse and Yoram Moefana drop out of the starting line-up, with Cameron Woki and Louis Bielle-Biarrey taking their place.
Willemse, who started last week at lock, has been suspended for four weeks after being sent off for a pair of high tackles during the defeat to Ireland. Racing secondrow Woki, renowned for his lineout work, comes into the side in a bid to shore up a set-piece that lost four throws to Ireland.
Moefana, normally a centre by trade, started on the wing but has been replaced in the backthree by Bordeaux team-mate Bielle-Biarrey.
Thomas Ramos and Damian Penaud once again form the remainder of the backfield, with Gael Fickou and Jonathan Danty maintaining their centre partnership. The Bordeaux halfbacks of Matthieu Jalibert and Maxime Lucu remain in situ.
The Italian Job with Felipe Contepomi and Gordon D'Arcy
Gregory Alldritt once again captains the side in the backrow, where he is again joined by Charles Ollivon and Francois Cros. Paul Gabrillagues partners Woki at lock while the frontrow of Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka and Uini Atonio remains unchanged.
On the bench, Sebastien Taoififenua, brother of lock Romain who is sidelined, offers loosehead cover in place of the injured La Rochelle prop Reda Wardi. Posolo Tuilagi keeps his place in the 23 as France once again opt for a 6/2 forwards/backs split, Nolann Le Garrec and Moefana offering backs cover among the replacements.
For their opponents, Scotland’s recently appointed co-captain Rory Darge will start Saturday’s match after six weeks out with a knee injury.
The 23-year-old Glasgow flanker takes over the number seven jersey from the previous captain, Jamie Ritchie, who drops out of the 23 altogether, in one of three changes – all in the forward line – to the team that started the 27-26 win away to Wales.
Darge, who has recovered quicker than anticipated from an injury sustained away to Edinburgh on the last weekend of December, is listed as co-captain alongside the standoff Finn Russell for the Murrayfield showdown with a France side aiming to bounce back from their chastening 38-17 home defeat by Ireland.
The number eight Jack Dempsey and lock Grant Gilchrist, who was suspended last weekend, return to the side in place of Luke Crosbie and Richie Gray, both of whom picked up tournament-ending injuries in Cardiff.
The backs department is unchanged, meaning Kyle Rowe, who made his first international start in Wales, continues at fullback in the absence of the injured Blair Kinghorn. The in-form Saracens backrower Andy Christie has been named among the subs after missing out on the 23 last weekend.
Scotland: Kyle Rowe; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell (co-capt), Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson; Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings; Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge (co-capt), Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Andy Christie, George Horne, Ben Healy, Cameron Redpath.
France: Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud; Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Matthieu Jalibert, Maxime Lucu; Cyril Baille, Peto Mauvaka, Uini Atonio; Cameron Woki, Paul Gabrillagues; Francois Cros, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt (capt).
Replacements: Julien Marchand, Romain Taofifenua, Dorian Aldegheri, Posolo Tuilagi, Alexandre Roumat, Paul Boudehent, Nolann Le Garrec, Yoram Moefana.
Meanwhile England have named an unchanged team for the first time since the 2019 World Cup final as they prepare to face Wales in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday, with Ellis Genge the only change on the bench from the side who beat Italy last week.
Loosehead prop Genge returns in place of Beno Obano after overcoming the foot injury that made him a late withdrawal in Rome.
Although England’s 27-24 victory was their smallest winning margin against Italy, they showed more ambition in attack than during their kick-based World Cup campaign last year.
With five players having made their debuts, coach Steve Borthwick is keen to give them and the new systems another opportunity to bed in.
“With a new player group and a number of new caps, we have tried to develop our game on both sides of the ball,” Borthwick said. “Such changes take time, and I was pleased how quickly the players settled and adapted last weekend.”
Wales, beaten 27-26 at home by Scotland last week, have not won a Six Nations game at Twickenham since 2012 and that, along with 2008, are their only championship victories there in the last 36 years – although they did slip in a famous World Cup pool stage win in 2015 that contributed to England’s early exit.
Warren Gatland named his side on Wednesday.
England: Freddie Steward; Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Fraser Dingwall, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Joe Marler, Jamie George, Will Stuart; Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum; Ethan Roots, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.
Replacements: Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Chandler Cunningham-South, Danny Care, Fin Smith, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
Wales: Cameron Winnett; Josh Adams, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer; Ioan Lloyd, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee, Keiron Assiratti, Dafydd Jenkins (capt), Adam Beard; Alex Mann, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Corey Domachowski, Archie Griffin, Will Rowlands, Taine Basham, Kieran Hardy, Cai Evans, Mason Grady.
