France change two, give first start to 19-year-old Posolo Tuilagi

Fabien Galthie has made two changes to his France team to host Italy in Lille on Sunday, including giving the 19-year-old Posolo Tuilagi his first Test start after two appearances off the bench.

Last time out, the French clung on to a 20-16 Guinness Six Nations win over Scotland in Edinburgh, a February 10 success that needed a last-gasp TMO decision to go in their favour after the game’s final play over the try line was reviewed by the officials.

Injury to Gregory Alldritt means Galthie wasn’t in a position to keep in situ his entire starting XV from BT Murrayfield. However, aside from promoting Paul Boudehent from the bench to fill the back row vacancy, the head coach has decided to drop Paul Gabrillagues and hand Tuilagi his first Test start.

A star at the Junior World Championship in Cape Town last July with the title-winning French U20s, Tuilagi featured off the Test bench in the recent Six Nations games versus Ireland and Scotland but he now makes the step up for his maiden start.

The naming of Boudehent as Alldritt’s replacement resulted in a back row reshuffle, with Francois Cros switching to No8 and his blindside role being filled by the promoted Boudehent.

His inclusion has left Esteban Abadie primed to make his Test debut from the bench. The other change to the replacements is the call-up for Romain Taofifenua to cover for Tuilagi’s promotion into the starting XV.