Anotine Dupont understudy set for France debut against Japan

Toulouse scrum-half Paul Graou is set to make his France debut from the bench on Saturday against Japan in round three of the Nations Championship.

The 28-year-old, who serves as back-up to Antoine Dupont for the Top 14 champions, is the only debutant in the squad for the match against Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms in Tokyo.

Les Bleus’ boss Fabien Galthie has made four changes to his starting XV from the side that triumphed over Australia 42-26 last week, with a completely new front-row. Jefferson Poirot, Maxime Lamothe and Regis Montagne will start this week, with last week’s hooker, Peato Mauvaka, starting on the bench.

The only other change will see Alexandre Roumat start at No.8, with Marko Gazzotti shifting to the flank this week, and Oscar Jegou dropping out of the squad.

The backline will remain intact, meaning Matthieu Jalibert will continue his new role at full-back, where he thrived in Brisbane.

Fixture

Nations Championship

Japan

15 - 42

Full-time

France

All Stats and Data

Hugo Auradou, Tom Staniforth, Killian Tixeront and Kalvin Gourgues will retain their places on the bench, and will be joined by Mauvaka, loosehead Reda Wardi, tighthead Sipilo Falatea, who has earned a recall to the national team for the first time in three years, and the debutant Graou.

France XV: 15. Matthieu Jalibert; 14. Théo Attissogbe, 13. Fabien Brau-Boirie, 12. Yoram Moefana, 11. Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang; 10. Romain Ntamack, 9. Maxime Lucu; 1. Jefferson Poirot, 2. Maxime Lamothe, 3. Régis Montagne, 4. Florian Verhaeghe, 5. Emmanuel Meafou, 6. Lenni Nouchi, 7. Marko Gazzotti, 8. Alexandre Roumat
Replacements: 16. Peato Mauvaka, 17. Reda Wardi, 18. Sipili Falatea, 19. Hugo Auradou, 20. Tom Staniforth, 21. Killian Tixeront, 22. Paul Graou, 23. Kalvin Gourgues