Fabien Galthié has rung the changes from his side’s Guinness Six Nations win over Ireland, making eight for France’s trip to BT Murrayfield to face Scotland.
With France’s Autumn Nations Cup opener against Fiji cancelled, Sunday’s fixture represents a first taste of tournament action for Les Bleus and injury and rotation appear to have played a key part in Galthié’s line-up.
An experimental starting XV had been expected for France in their contest with Fiji and elements of that remain for the challenge with Scotland.
With Romain Ntamack ruled out through injury Bordeaux’s Matthieu Jalibert, who featured off the bench during this year’s Guinness Six Nations, steps in at fly-half.
Thomas Ramos starts at full-back in place of Anthony Bouthier, who is nursing a knee injury, while winger Teddy Thomas returns to the side after missing the contest with Ireland with a hamstring injury in a move which sees Gaël Fickou picked at centre.
There are five changes in the pack too where Jean-Baptiste Gros, Camille Chat and Demba Bamba make up an entirely different front row – Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand and Mohamed Haouas having occupied those places against Andy Farrell’s men.
In addition, Romain Taofifenua replaces Paul Willemse in the second row and Dylan Cretin steps in for the injured Francois Cros at blindside flanker.
Among the replacements is 21-year-old Lyon fly-half Louis Carbonel, who is expected to make his international debut at some stage during the contest.
“What makes us happy in our team, our group, there are emerging players,”Galthié said. “Players who inspire both inside and outside the group.
“We are very happy with that and Antoine Dupont is one of them. We understand that the consequence of the result is recognition. This comforts us in our desire to become a great nation of world rugby again.”
France team to face Scotland
15. Thomas Ramos (Toulouse) 14. Teddy Thomas (Racing 92) 13. Virimi Vakatawa (Racing 92) 12. Gaël Fickou (Stade Francais) 11. Vincent Rattez (Montpellier) 10. Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux Bègles) 9. Antoine Dupont (Toulouse) 1. Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon) 2. Camille Chat (Racing 92) 3. Demba Bamba (Lyon) 4. Bernard Le Roux (Racing 92) 5. Romain Taofifenua (Toulon) 6. Dylan Cretin (Lyon) 7. Charles Ollivon (Toulon) – CAPTAIN 8. Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle)
Replacements: 16. Julien Marchand (Toulouse) 17. Cyril Baille (Toulouse) 18. Mohamed Haouas (Montpellier) 19. Paul Willemse (Montpellier) 20. Cameron Woki (Bordeaux Bègles) 21. Baptiste Couilloud (Lyon) 22. Louis Carbonel (Toulon) 23. Arthur Vincent (Montpellier)
