Continuity is the name of the game for Jacques Brunel as he selects an entirely unchanged France 23 to take on Ireland in the Guinness Six Nations this weekend.
Following defeats by Wales and England in the opening two rounds of this year’s Championship, Les Bleus sparkled in Paris last time out to beat Scotland 27-10 – maintaining a 20-year home winning streak against the Scots in the process.
Unsurprisingly, Brunel has kept faith with the same 23 players that served him so well in Round Three as they head to Dublin for a tough test against reigning Grand Slam winners Ireland.
That means the exciting young half-back pairing of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack that galvanised the French backline at the Stade de France remains, as does 23-year-old full-back Thomas Ramos – who will also take on kicking duties.
Cedate Gomes Sa and Sébastien Bézy had been called up to the wider squad in place of the injured Uini Atonio and Morgan Parra this week but neither has cracked the unchanged matchday group.
Guilhem Guirado skippers the side once more from hooker, with Jefferson Poirot and Demba Bamba either side of him in the front row as France look to improve a recent record that has seen them win just one of their last eight clashes with Ireland, home or away.
Félix Lambey and Sébastien Vahaamahina are the locks, while the in-form trio of Wenceslas Lauret, Arthur Iturria and Louis Picamoles will do battle with an impressive Irish back row.
Gaël Fickou and Mathieu Bastareaud renew their partnership in the centres, while Yoann Huget and Damian Penaud complete the back-three alongside Ramos.
France team to face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday: 15. Thomas Ramos 14. Damian Penaud 13. Mathieu Bastareaud 12. Gaël Fickou 11. Yoann Huget 10. Romain Ntamack 9. Antoine Dupont 1. Jefferson Poirot 2. Guilhem Guirado (c) 3. Demba Bamba 4. Félix Lambey 5. Sébastien Vahaamahina 6. Wenceslas Lauret 7. Arthur Iturria 8. Louis Picamoles
Replacements 16. Camille Chat 17. Etienne Falgoux 18. Dorian Aldegheri 19. Paul Willemse 20. Gregory Alldritt 21. Baptiste Serin 22. Anthony Belleau 23. Maxime Médard
