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Six Nations 2026 Awards - and our Team of the Tournament
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Two changes for title-chasing France but 7-1 bench tactic retained
By Liam Heagney
Fabien Galthie has made two changes to his France team and retained his 7-1 bench split tactic for Saturday night’s Guinness Six Nations finale at home to Scotland in Paris.
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Having jumped on top of the table with last Saturday’s 42-27 trouncing of Ireland in Dublin, a win for the French over the Scots would see them clinch a first championship title since 2022.
With Antoine Dupont out of the reckoning following his 29th-minute serious knee injury at Aviva Stadium, Maxime Lucu, who impressed as the scrum-half replacement, has been promoted start in a backline containing one other change.
Midfielder Pierre-Louis Barassi, who suffered a second-half concussion in Dublin, has been replaced at outside centre by the fit-again Gael Fickou.
The starting pack that took on the Irish has been retained en bloc, as have all seven forwards who played off the bench.
????????? Rendez-vous ?????? au @StadeFrance !
???? On aura besoin ?? ???? ! ?#FRAECO #XVdeFrance #NeFaisonsXV pic.twitter.com/Xf6eM7bSu1
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) March 13, 2025
The only change in the replacements is the inclusion of Nolann le Garrec as the sole back, earning a call-up due to Lucu’s promotion.
