Jacques Brunel has named uncapped Romain Ntamack in his starting XV for France’s Guinness Six Nations opener against Wales at the Stade de France on Friday night.
The 19-year-old, who was part of France’s Under-20s World Cup-winning side, wins his first cap alongside Wesley Fofana with Mathieu Bastareaud not included in the 23-man squad.
Ntamack, the son of ex-Les Bleus winger Emile, has become a regular for Toulouse this year and is the youngest player in any Six Nations squad this year.
The backline also sees Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez reunited for France in the half-back pairing for the first time since the 2015 Championship.
South African-born Paul Willemse, who qualifies for his adoptive country on residency grounds after spending more than three years with Top 14 clubs Montpellier and Grenoble, is also included.
Guilhem Guirado will captain the side as part of a front row that includes Jefferson Poirot and Uini Antonio, with Sébastian Vahaamahina and Willemse in the engine room.
Wenceslas Lauret, Arthur Iturria and Louis Picamoles complete the pack, while Maxime Médard, Damian Penaud and Yoann Huget will also start the opener against Warren Gatland’s side.
La Rochelle’s Grégory Alldritt is named on the bench and could be the third debutant for Les Bleus in the encounter.
France team to face Wales:
15. Maxime Medard (Stade Toulousain) 14. Damian Penaud (ASM Clermont Auvergne) 13. Wesley Fofana (ASM Clermont Auvergne) 12. Romain Ntamack (Stade Toulousain) 11. Yoann Huget (Stade Toulousain) 10. Camille Lopez (ASM Clermont Auvergne) 9. Morgan Parra (ASM Clermont Auvergne) 1. Jefferson Poirot (Union Bordeaux-Bègles) 2. Guilhem Guirado (capt) (RC Toulon) 3. Uini Antonio (Stade Rochelais) 4. Sébastien Vahaamahina (ASM Clermont Auvergne) 5. Paul Willemse (Montpellier) 6. Wenceslas Lauret (Racing 92) 7. Arthur Iturria (ASM Clermont Auvergne) 8. Louis Picamoles (Montpellier)
Replacements:
16. Julien Marchand (Stade Toulousain) 17. Dany Priso (Stade Rochelais) 18. Demba Bamba (CA Brive) 19. Félix Lambey (Lyon OU) 20. Grégory Alldritt (Stade Rochelais) 21. Baptiste Serin (Union Bordeaux-Bègles) 22. Gaël Fickou (Stade Français) 23. Geoffrey Doumayrou (Stade Rochelais)
