France give first start to Andreu against Italy

FRANCE winger Marc Andreu will start for the first time in the Six Nations game against Italy on Sunday after coach Marc Lievremont made two changes to his team for the game at Stade de France.

Andreu and centre David Marty replace Julien Malzieu and Mathieu Bastareaud respectively from the team that beat Wales 26-20 last month in Cardiff to stay on course for the Grand Slam while on the replacements bench Biarritz half-back Dimitri Yachvili has been call in for the injured Frederic Michalak.

France will host England on March 20 in their last match in the championship and will hope to still be on course for their first title since 2007 and their first Grand Slam since 2006.