France spring surprise with Dupont selected at out-half for Springboks clash

Regular out-half Romain Ntamack dislocated his shoulder in the victory over Fiji

Maxime Lucu will play at scrum-half for France with Antoine Dupont at out-half. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

France have shifted captain Antoine Dupont from scrum-half to out-half for ​Friday's Nations Championship clash against South Africa, ‌replacing the injured Romain Ntamack, coach Fabien Galthie said on Wednesday.

Maxime Lucu came on at out-half against Fiji ​last Saturday to replace Ntamack, who dislocated his ​left shoulder, and appeared set to retain ⁠the position against the Boks but will instead ​play in Dupont's usual scrum-half role.

Former captain Gregory ​Alldritt replaces the injured Paul Boudehent in the back row. Francois Cros moves from number eight to blindside flanker while Cameron ​Woki is on the openside of the ​scrum.

France have also brought back hooker Julien Marchand, who replaces ‌Maxime ⁠Lamothe with Peato Mauvaka retaining his role as the replacement hooker on the bench.

Out-half Axel Desperes in on the bench and ⁠is in line to win his first cap.

FRANCE: Theo Attissogbe; Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Kalvin Gourgues, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Antoine Dupont (captain), Maxime Lucu; Gregory Alldritt, Cameron Woki, Francois Cros; Mickael Guillard, Florian Verhaeghe; Sipili Falatea, Julien Marchand, Jean-Baptiste Gros.

Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Rodrigue Neti, Regis Montagne, Charles Ollivon, Tom Staniforth, Esteban Capilla, Axel Desperes, Emilien Gailleton.

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