‘All the pressure is on Ireland’ - Picamoles back for France

Number eight Louis Picamoles will start France's Pool D decider against Ireland on Sunday as one of two changes to the team who beat Canada in their previous Rugby World Cup game.

Picamoles, who replaces Bernard Le Roux in the back row, was rested by coach Philippe Saint-Andre for Les Bleus’s 41-18 victory against Canada, which gave the French three wins out of three.

Winger Noa Nakaitaci is also back in place of Remy Grosso, while Damien Chouly switches to openside flanker to make way for Picamoles at number eight.

There are also two changes from the team which started the campaign with a 32-10 win over Italy.

Centre Wesley Fofana replaces Alexandre Dumoulin and utility back Brice Dulin takes the spot of winger Yoann Huget, who was forced to quit the tournament through injury.

Although both Ireland and France have already qualified for the quarter-finals, the losers of Sunday's game is likely to face holders New Zealand in the first round of the knockout stage.

Upon the announcement of his team Saint-Andre said the “pressure is all on Ireland. They are the favourites, they haven’t lost to us in four years. It would be a shame if they lost.

“Our players are starving to play this game...all the pressure is on Ireland.”

Talking about the selection of veteran outhalf Freddie Michalak he added; “When you are a class player you can be reborn...like a nice red wine, the older you are...”

France: Scott Spedding; Noa Nakaitaci, Mathieu Bastareaud, Wesley Fofana, Brice Dulin; Frederic Michalak, Sebastien Tillous-Borde; Eddy Ben Arous, Guilhem Guirado, Rabah Slimani; Pascal Pape, Yoann Maestri; Thierry Dusautoir (captain), Damien Chouly, Louis Picamoles.

Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Vincent Debaty, Nicolas Mas, Alexandre Flanquart, Bernard Le Roux, Morgan Parra, Remi Tales, Alexandre Dumoulin.