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Poirot set to captain France against Scotland

JeffersonPoirotFranceTeam19SB2000
Jefferson Poirot will captain France for the first time as they take on Scotland in their opening World Cup warm-up match in Nice.

Jefferson Poirot will captain France for the first time as they take on Scotland in their opening World Cup warm-up match in Nice.

The Bordeaux-Bègles prop takes the armband for the encounter, with Alivereti Raka and François Cros making their debuts.

There are two further debutants on the bench, front row pair Peato Mauvaka of Toulouse and Emerick Setiano of Toulon.

Elsewhere Antoine Dupont and Camille Lopez start together in the half-backs for the first time, working with an exciting backline as Wesley Fofana and Gaël Fickou are paired together in the centres and Maxime Médard and Damian Penaud complete the back three.

In the pack, Charles Ollivon makes his international return after an injury-hit three years, starting alongside Cros and Grégory Alldritt, while Sébastien Vahaamahina and Paul Gabrillagues get the nod in the second row.

Finally Poirot is joined by Camille Chat, stepping in for Guilhem Guirado at hooker, with Rabah Slimani returning at tighthead prop after missing the Championship through injury.

Les Bleus finished fourth in the 2019 Guinness Six Nations, just ahead of Scotland, who they beat 27-10 in Paris.

This will be the first of two warm-up clashes against the Scots, a return fixture taking place next week in Edinburgh before a final game against Italy in Paris.

France team to take on Scotland

15. Maxime Médard (Toulouse) 14. Damian Penaud (Clermont) 13. Gaël Fickou (Stade Français) 12. Wesley Fofana (Clermont) 11. Alivereti Raka (Clermont) 10. Camille Lopez (Clermont) 9. Antoine Dupont (Toulouse)

1. Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux-Bègles) (c) 2. Camille Chat (Racing 92) 3. Rabah Slimani (Clermont) 4. Paul Gabrillagues (Stade Français) 5. Sébastien Vahaamahina (Clermont) 6. François Cros (Toulouse) 7. Charles Ollivon (Toulon) 8. Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle)

Replacements: 16. Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse) 17. Dany Priso (La Rochelle) 18. Emerick Setiano (Toulon) 19. Félix Lambey (Lyon) 20. Louis Picamoles (Montpellier) 21. Baptiste Serin (Toulon) 22. Romain Ntamack (Toulouse) 23. Thomas Ramos (Toulouse)