Antoine Dupont will captain France against Italy on Sunday after Fabien Galthié revealed the team for their 2022 Guinness Six Nations opener in Paris.
Dupont withdrew from Les Bleus’ initial Championship squad after testing positive for Covid but has recovered in time to start at scrum-half and takes the captain’s armband.
France will be without head coach Galthié in Paris though, as he is isolating after testing positive for Covid on Thursday, with general manager Raphaël Ibañez set to lead the staff on the ground in Paris.
Galthie has mild symptoms and will continue to help the team prepare for Sunday’s game remotely, while the rest of the group all returned negative tests on Friday morning.
Dupont, the 2020 Player of the Championship, is standing in for the injured Charles Ollivon as captain and will form a familiar half-back partnership with fly-half Romain Ntamack.
Jonathan Danty and Gaël Fickou start in the centres, while wingers Gabin Villiere and Damian Penaud and full-back Melvyn Jaminet make up the back three.
In the forwards, impressive lock Cameron Woki gets the nod to start alongside the experienced Paul Willemse, while Anthony Jelonch, Dylan Cretin and Grégory Alldritt form the back row.
Cyril Baille, Julian Marchand and Uini Atonio start in the front row, with tighthead prop Atonio the oldest player in the starting XV at 31 years old.
France team to face Italy: 15. Melvyn Jaminet, 14. Damian Penaud, 13. Gael Fickou, 12. Jonathan Danty, 11. Gabin Villiere, 10. Romain Ntamack. 9. Antoine Dupont, 1. Cyril Baille, 2. Julien Marchand, 3. Uini Atonio, 4. Cameron Woki, 5. Paul Willemse, 6. Anthony Jelonch, 7. Dylan Cretin, 8. Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: 16. Peato Mauvaka, 17. Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18. Demba Bamba, 19. Romain Taofifenua, 20. Francois Cros, 21. Maxime Lucu, 22. Yoram Moefana, 23. Thomas Ramos.
