France team named - Bastareaud to captain
Mathieu Bastareaud will captain France in place of the injured Guilhem Guirado as Jacques Brunel makes three changes for their final 2018 Six Nations fixture against Wales.
Hooker Guirado has been ruled out with a knee problem and his place is taken by Adrien Pelissie, with bruising centre Bastareaud to lead the side in Cardiff on Saturday.
Gael Fickou is selected on the wing, from where Benjamin Fall moves to full-back with Hugo Bonneval missing out due to a failed head injury assessment, and Cedate Gomes Sa replaces Rabah Slimani in the front row.
Les Bleus, who ended England's faint title hopes with a 22-16 victory in Paris last weekend, are one of four sides - along with opponents Wales - who can finish second behind champions Ireland, who are chasing the Grand Slam at Twickenham.
France: Benjamin Fall, Gael Fickou, Mathieu Bastareaud (captain), Geoffrey Doumayrou, Remy Grosso, Francois Trinh-Duc, Maxime Machenaud; Jefferson Poirot, Adrien Pelissie, Cedate Gomes Sa, Paul Gabrillagues, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Wenceslas Lauret, Yacouba Camara, Marco Tauleigne.
Replacements: Camille Chat, Dany Priso, Rabah Slimani, Bernard Le Roux, Mathieu Babillot, Baptiste Couilloud, Lionel Beauxis, Geoffrey Palis.
Latest Comments
Thanks Nick. Surely they will thump Japan this week and the pressure will be off. Do you want to make a prediction that the defence coach will go before the Six Nations? England seem to want Borthwick there for a long time so surely they will back Bortho and look for a new defence coach?
Go to commentsYes, Carlos, I sensed before hand this would be a very close game, even could see an Arg. win....well, they have beaten all their three SH compatriots this year, then added Italy. And as nick says below, they were winners of the breakdown for a lot of the game, and both sides of the ball too.
Felipe very highly regarded in Ireland, esp. Leinster.
Good luck this weekend !
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