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France recall quartet for Grand Slam decider
France coaches Gaelle Mignot and David Ortiz have made four changes to their starting line-up for Saturday’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2024 Grand Slam decider against England in Bordeaux.
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Second row Madoussou Fall and flanker Gaelle Hermet come into the pack while winger Marine Menager and centre Nassira Konde have been recalled to the backline following Les Bleues’ 40-0 defeat of Wales in Cardiff last Sunday.
It means the team that finishes the Championship shows only one change to the XV that opened it with a 38-17 win against Ireland in Le Mans. Joanna Grisez, who scored two tries at Cardiff Arms Park, is the only player in the line-up who did not start the defeat of Ireland; Kelly Arbey is the one who has dropped out.
The rest of the starting XV is unchanged from the first game: the same Bordeaux front row is back for the fifth match in a row, as is the second row of captain Manae Feleu and Fall.
In the back row, Hermet is selected to start for the first time since the second round and lines up alongside Charlotte Escudero and Romane Menager. Pauline Bourdon-Sansus and Lina Queyroi are again paired in the half-backs. Marine Menager is back on the wing after being ruled out of the Wales match.
The only surprises are on the bench with Elisa Riffonneau, who plays in England, returning for her 10th cap alongside Ambre Mwayembe. There is also renewed confidence in sevens players Chloe Jacquet and Anne-Cecile Ciofani, who is in line to make her second Test appearance.
France (vs England, Saturday)
1. Annaëlle Deshayes (28 years old, 47 caps)
2. Agathe Sochat (28, 51 caps)
3. Assia Khalfaoui (23, 22 caps)
4. Manaé Feleu – captain (24 years old, 16 caps)
5. Madoussou Fall (26, 29 caps)
6. Charlotte Escudero (23, 19 caps)
7. Gaëlle Hermet (27, 62 caps)
8. Romane Ménager (27, 61 caps)
9. Pauline Bourdon-Sansus (28, 56 caps)
10. Lina Queyroi (22, 13 caps)
11. Marine Ménager – vice-captain (27 years old, 47 caps)
12. Gabrielle Vernier (26 years old, 44 caps)
13. Nassira Konde (24, 10 caps)
14. Joanna Grisez (27, 6 caps)
15. Emilie Boulard (24, 30 caps)
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Replacements:
16. Elisa Riffonneau (20 years old, 9 caps)
17. Ambre Mwayembe (20, 9 caps)
18. Clara Joyeux (26, 44 caps)
19. Teani Feleu (21, 2 caps)
20. Emeline Gros (28, 32 caps)
21. Alexandra Chambon (23, 21 caps)
22. Anne-Cécile Ciofani (30, 1 cap)
23. Chloé Jacquet (22, 17 caps)
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