Castaignede back for France

Thomas Castaignede returns to the France line-up against Italy at the Stade de France on Saturday in the RBS Six Nations.

Coach Bernard Laporte and team manager Jo Maso announced their team in Marcoussis with changes following the 43-31 victory over Ireland.

Castaignede, 30, had already been called up before Les Bleus lost their opener to Scotland at Murrayfield 20-16 at the start of February but was forced to pull out with a thigh injury.

He replaces Christophe Dominici, who moves to the wing in place of Cedric Heymans who is on the bench despite scoring two tries against Ireland.

Damien Traille replaces David Marty at centre while Thomas Lievremont comes in for Julien Bonnaire with both Marty and Bonnaire dropped to the bench.

France team to play Italy on Saturday in the RBS Six Nations Championship in Paris:

T Castaignede (Saracens); A Rougerie (Clermont), F Fritz (Toulouse), D Traille (Biarritz), C Dominici (Stade Francais); F Michalak (Toulouse), J-B Elissalde (Toulouse); O Milloud (Bourgoin), R Ibanez (Wasps), P De Villiers (Stade Francais), J Thion (Biarritz), F Pelous (Toulouse, capt), Y Nyanga (Toulouse), T Lievremont (Biarritz), O Magne (London Irish)

Replacements

S Bruno (Sale), S Marconnet (Stade Francais), L Nallet (Castres), J Bonnaire (Bourgoin), D Yachvili (Biarritz), D Marty (Perpignan), C Heymans (Toulouse)