Fofana called up for Les Bleus debut

Centre Wesley Fofana will earn his first cap for France when they take on Italy in their RBS 6 Nations opener on Saturday.

The 24-year-old will line up alongside Clermont Auvergne team-mate Aurelien Rougerie in midfield at Stade de France for coach Philippe Saint-Andre’s first game in charge.

Francois Trinh-Duc takes over at fly-half from Morgan Parra who, after starting the World Cup final against New Zealand, drops to the bench. Another uncapped player, Yoann Maestri, will sit on the bench alongside Imanol Harinordoquy, who surprisingly does not make the starting XV.

The sight of Trinh-Duc alongside Dimitri Yachvili at half-back will please many France fans.The 25-year-old came off the bench in the World Cup final in New Zealand after Lievremont chose to play Parra, usually a scrum-half, ahead of him.

The coach insists his side will not be underestimating Italy, who last year beat Les Bleus at Stadio Flaminio.

FRANCE: M Medard (Toulouse); V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), W Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne); F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), D Yachvili (Biarritz); V Debaty (Clermont Auvergne), W Servat (Toulouse), N Mas (Perpignan), P Pape (Stade Francais), L Nallet (Racing Metro), T Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), L Picamoles (Toulouse).

Replacements: D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), J-B Poux (Toulouse), Y Maestri (Toulouse), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), L Beauxis (Toulouse), M Mermoz (Perpignan).