Galthie hands out debut in one of four changes for Le Crunch showdown

France have added heft to their second row by recalling Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with England in Paris.

Head coach Fabien Galthie has turned to his trusted all-Toulouse lock partnership by pairing the duo together for the ninth time, promoting them from the bench roles they performed in the 50-40 defeat by Scotland in round four.

Charles Ollivon moves from the engine room to number eight to accommodate their return, with Galthie’s hand partly forced by suspension and injury.

Oscar Jegou has been banned for four matches for eye-gouging against Scotland while Anthony Jelonch is recovering from a hamstring strain suffered during training this week.

Temo Matiu makes his debut in the number seven jersey to complete the three personnel changes to the pack.

Fixture

Six Nations

France

48 - 46

Full-time

England

All Stats and Data

The only adjustment to the backline is at outside centre where Pierre-Louis Barassi replaces Nicolas Depoortere, who dislocated his shoulder at Murrayfield.

France top the Six Nations table but are locked in a three-way tussle for the title alongside Ireland and Scotland, who clash in Dublin in the opening match of ‘Super Saturday’.

However, Les Bleus’ overwhelmingly superior points difference means that a bonus-point victory would almost certainly result in a successful defence of their crown, regardless of events at the Aviva Stadium.

France XV
15 Thomas Ramos
14 Théo Attissogbe
13 Pierre-Louis Barassi
12 Yoram Moefana
11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey
10 Matthieu Jalibert
9 Antoine Dupont
1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
2 Julien Marchand
3 Dorian Aldegheri
4 Thibaud Flament
5 Emmanuel Meafou
6 François Cros
7 Tevita Matitu
8 Charles Ollivon

Replacements
16 Peato Mauvaka
17 Rodrigue Neti
18 Demba Bamba
19 Hugo Auradou
20 Mickaël Guillard
21 Joshua Brennan
22 Baptiste Serin
23 Émilien Gailleton