France make two changes ahead of Wales clash

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made two changes to the team beaten by Italy last weekend for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales in Paris.

Powerful Toulon centre Mathieu Bastareaud replaces Florian Fritz, while Bastareaud’s club colleague Jocelino Suta takes over from injured captain Pascal Pape in the second row.

Flanker Thierry Dusautoir will skipper the side as Les Bleus look to bounce back from their shock 23-18 defeat in Rome.

Saint-Andre has resisted any temptation to tinker with his side elsewhere, notably at half-back, where Frederic Michalak and Maxime Machenaud remain his preferred pairing.

Team: Y Huget (Toulouse); W Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), M Mermoz (Toulon), M Bastareaud (Toulon), B Fall (Racing Metro); F Michalak (Toulon), M Machenaud (Racing Metro); Y Forestier (Castres), D Szarzewski (Racing Metro), N Mas (Perpignan), J Suta (Toulon), Y Maestri (Toulouse), F Ouedraogo (Montpellier), T Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), L Picamoles (Toulouse).

Replacements: B Kayser (Clermont Auvergne), V Debaty (Clermont Auvergne), L Ducalon (Castres), R Taofifenua (Perpignan), D Chouly (Clermont Auvergne), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), F Fritz (Toulouse).