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Ducuing to make first France start, Plisson and Dulin return
By Peter Thompson
Nans Ducuing will make his first France start in the third and final Test against South Africa on Saturday, while Jules Plisson and Brice Dulin also come into the side.
Les Bleus have already lost the series after defeats in Pretoria and Durban but have the opportunity to salvage some pride in Johannesburg this weekend.
Guy Noves has made three changes to his line-up to take on the Springboks, giving wing Ducuing his chance to make an impact from the start with Yoann Huget ruled out due to a cut to the mouth sustained in the second Test.
Fly-half Plisson is restored to the side at the expense of Francois Trinh-Duc, who drops to the bench, while full-back Dulin is preferred to Scott Spedding.
Louis Picamoles will retain his place in the back-row having shaken off a thigh injury.
France team: Brice Dulin, Nans Ducuing, Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Virimi Vakatawa, Jules Plisson, Baptiste Serin; Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Rabah Slimani, Yoann Maestri, Romain Taofifenua, Yacouba Camara, Kevin Gourdon, Louis Picamoles.
Replacements: Clement Maynadier, Xavier Chiocci, Uini Atonio, Paul Jedrasiak, Loann Goujon, Maxime Machenaud, Francois Trinh-Duc, Vincent Rattez.
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i think Argentina v France could be a good game too, depending on which Argentina turns up. The most difficult to call is Scotland Australia.
Go to commentsSmith is playing a different game with the rest of the backs struggling to understand. That's the problem with so called playmakers, if nobody gets what they're doing then it often just leads to a turnover. It gets worse when Borthwick changes one of them, which is why they don't score points at the end. Sometimes having a brilliant playmaker can be problematic if a team cannot be built around them. Once again Borthwick seems lacking in either coaching or selection. I can't help but think it's the latter coupled with pressure to select the big name players.
Lastly, his forward replacements are poor and exposed either lack of depth or selection pressure. Cole hemorrhages scrum penalties whenever he comes on, opponents take advantage of the England scrum and close out the game. Is that the best England can offer?
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