France have recalled veteran midfielder Gaël Fickou for Saturday’s clash with Australia in Paris.
Coach Fabien Galthié is turning to experience as Les Bleus look to build momentum in what has been a stop-start campaign.
Fickou, 31, captained France in their tough defeat to the Springboks on 8 November, but was rested for last week’s laboured win over Fiji. He now returns for his 98th Test, replacing Pierre-Louis Barassi, who has been ruled out with concussion.
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No 8 Grégory Alldritt continues as captain with Antoine Dupont sidelined until December after knee surgery. Galthié has made three changes in total, including a reshuffle in the second row.
Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou are promoted to the starting XV, with Romain Taofifenua dropping to the bench and Charles Ollivon shifting to flank – a move that sees Oscar Jegou named among the replacements.
There’s also excitement around Toulouse starlet Kalvin Gourgues, the 20-year-old centre in line to make his Test debut after catching the eye in this season’s Top 14.
Galthié emphasised the need for clarity and calm as France prepare for a Wallabies side searching for form.
“We do not underestimate the passion and resolve that Australia will bring and we know how organised, accurate and ruthless we need to be in return,” he said.
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FRANCE – 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Gael Fickou, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Gregory Alldritt (c), 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Regis Montagne, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Bench: 16 Maxime Lamothe, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Thomas Laclayat, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Hugo Auradou, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Baptiste Jauneau, 23 Kalvin Gourgues.
Photo: Franco Arland/Getty Images
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