Laporte rings changes in French team

A combination of injuries and a change in the thinking of coach Bernard Laporte has led to wholesale introductions to the French team to meet Scotland on Saturday in Paris.

As expected, Castres veteran Yann Delaigue has been chosen ahead of Frederic Michalak and Pierre Mignoni takes over from Julien Peyrelongue at half-back.

Sale's Sebastien Chabal has won a reprieve and he will form a combative back row with Patrick Tabacco and Bourgoin's Julien Bonnaire.

Imanol Harinordoquy, Olivier Magne, Serge Betsen, Yannick Jauzion and Nicolas Brusque were all ruled out by injury.

FRANCE (v Scotland): Pépito Elhorga (Agen); Aurélien Rougerie (Clermont), Brian Liebenberg (Stade Français), Damien Traille (Biarritz), Christophe Dominici (Stade Français); Yann Delaigue (Castres), Pierre Mignoni (Clermont); Sylvain Marconnet (Strade Francais), William Servat (Toulouse), Pieter de Villiers (Stade Francais), Fabien Pelous (Toulouse - capt), Jerome Thio (Biarritz), Julien Bonnaire (Bourgoin), Sebastien Chabal (Sale), Patrick Tabacco (Pau).

Replacements: Sébastien Bruno (Sale), Olivier Milloud (Bourgoin), Grégory Lamboley (Toulouse), Yannick Nyanga (Béziers), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz), Frédéric Michalak (Toulouse), Ludovic Valbon (Brive).