Matthieu Jalibert and Antoine Dupont will combine in the half-backs for France in the Guinness Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome.
Fabien Galthié and his staff are without Romain Ntamack, so it is Jalibert who gets the chance to start a fourth successive match for Les Bleus alongside Dupont, the 2020 Guinness Six Nations Player of the Championship.
Elsewhere Arthur Vincent comes into the midfield in the absence of Virimi Vakatawa, and will link up with Gaël Fickou, as he did for his first Test start against Italy in last year’s Championship.
Gabin Villière and Brice Dulin are rewarded for their fine performances in the Autumn Nations Cup as they start in the back three alongside Teddy Thomas.
Up front it is the same front five that started last year’s campaign, with Toulouse pair Cyril Baille and Julien Marchand joined by Montpellier’s Mohamed Haouas. In the second row Bernard Le Roux and Paul Willemse continue their partnership.
Finally in the back row Dylan Cretin comes in for the injured François Cros, as he did in the autumn, alongside skipper Charles Ollivon and fit-again Grégory Alldritt.
On the bench Pierre Bourgarit gets his chance with Camille Chat absent, while Damian Penaud is set for his first Test appearance since last March.
France team to face Italy:
15. Brice Dulin (La Rochelle) 14. Teddy Thomas (Racing 92) 13. Arthur Vincent (Montpellier) 12. Gaël Fickou (Stade Français) 11. Gabin Villière (Toulon) 10. Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Bègles) 9. Antoine Dupont (Toulouse)
1. Cyril Baille (Toulouse) 2. Julien Marchand (Toulouse) 3. Mohamed Haouas (Montpellier) 4. Bernard Le Roux (Racing 92) 5. Paul Willemse (Montpellier) 6. Dylan Cretin (Lyon) 7. Charles Ollivon (c) (Toulon) 8. Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle)
Replacements
16. Pierre Bourgarit (La Rochelle) 17. Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon) 18. Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse) 19. Romain Taofifenua (Toulon) 20. Anthony Jelonch (Castres) 21. Baptiste Serin (Toulon) 22. Louis Carbonel (Toulon) 23. Damian Penaud (Clermont)
