France make six changes for England test

France have made six changes to the side which lost 24-19 home to Wales for Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations match with England at Twickenham.

Head coach Jacques Brunel brought back Mathieu Bastareaud after he was left out of his 23-man squad for the Wales Test.

Also coming into the backline are Geoffrey Doumayrou, who will be in the centre alongside Bastareaud, while Gael Fickou is on the wing, with Joann Huget moving to full-back.

Romain Ntamack is on the bench, as are his Toulouse clubmates Antoine Dupont and Thomas Ramos. Ramos is in line for his international debut.

????????? Dimanche, c’est le crunch ! Voici votre #XVdeFrance pour défier les anglais ce week-end à Twickenham ! #NeFaisonsXV #ANGFRA pic.twitter.com/k8YQMvxsCI

— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 8, 2019

There have also been three changes in the pack there will be first test starts for Demba Bamba and Felix Lambey. Bamba replaces the injured Uini Atonio in the front row, while Lambey is preferred to South African-born lock Paul Willemse, who is on the bench.

Yacouba Camara is named in the backrow instead of Wenceslas Lauret.

Pierre Bourgarit is chosen as the replacement hooker instead of Julien Marchand, while uncapped Toulouse tighthead Dorian Aldegheri is also on the bench.

France team to face England:
15. Yoann Huget
14. Damian Penaud
13. Mathieu Bastareaud
12. Geoffrey Doumayrou
11. Gaël Fickou
10. Camille Lopez
9. Morgan Parra

1. Jefferson Poirot
2. Guilhem Guirado
3. Demba Bamba
4. Sébastien Vahaamahina
5. Félix Lambey
6. Yacouba Camara
7. Arthur Iturria
8. Louis Picamoles

Replacements

16. Pierre Bourgarit
17. Dany Priso
18. Dorian Aldegheri
19. Paul Willemse
20. Gregory Alldritt
21. Antoine Dupont
22. Romain Ntamack
23. Thomas Ramos

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