France and Scotland make two changes for clash as Lucu starts for injured Dupont

Mazime Lucu and Gael Fickou come into the starting XV for France while Matt Fagerson and Gregor Brown start for Scotland.

TEAM NEWS: France and Scotland both make two changes to their side for their final clash in the 2025 Guinness Six Nations. Pic: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott

MAXIME LUCU STARTS instead of the injured Antoine Dupont for France’s Six Nations title decider with Scotland in Paris on Saturday.

With Dupont ruled out for at least six months with a serious knee injury suffered in last weekend’s trouncing of Ireland, scrum-half Lucu is one of two changes made by head coach Fabien Galthié.

Victory at the Stade de France guarantees Les Bleus the trophy for the second time in four years.

Galthié’s other change sees the return of Gael Fickou who replaces Pierre-Louis Barassi in midfield. Barassi suffered a head injury in the Ireland win.

Gregory Alldritt leads the side, as he did in Dublin after captain Dupont’s injury, with replacement scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec the only back among the replacements as Galthié once again opts for a 7:1 bench split.

Meanwhile Gregor Townsend has made two changes to his side for the clash. Matt Fagerson replaces Jack Dempsey who is ruled out with a hamstring injury and Gregor Brown will start for Jonny Gray.

Brown makes his ninth appearance for Scotland after making his debut last summer against Canada.

The backline remains unchanged with Blair Kinghorn at full-back with Tom Jordan and Huw Jones contining at midfield. Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe continue on the wings.

Finn Russell and Ben White continue their partnership at half-back. 

Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry and Zander Fagerson continue in the front row with Grant Gilchrist joining Brown in the engine room. Matt Fagerson joins Jamie Ritchie and Rory Darge in the back row.

FRANCE: T Ramos, D Penaud, G Fickou, Y Moefana, L Bielle-Biarrey, R Ntamack, M Lucu; J-B Gros, P Mauvaka, U Atonio, T Flament, M Guillard, F Cros, P Boudehent, G Alldritt (c)

Replacements: J Marchand, C Baille, D Aldegheri, H Auradou, E Meafou, O Jegou, A Jelonch, N Le Garrec 

SCOTLAND: B Kinghorn, D Graham, H Jones, T Jordan, D van der Merwe, F Russell (CC), B White; P Schoeman, D Cherry, Z Fagerson, G Brown, G Gilchrist, J Ritchie, R Darge (CC), M Fagerson.

Replacements: E Ashman, R Sutherland, W Hurd, J Gray, M Sykes, B Muncaster, J Dobie, S McDowall.