Fabien Galthié has named his team for France’s warm-up game with Wales at the Stade de France as Les Bleus bid for back-to-back wins against their Guinness Six Nations rivals.
France defeated Wayne Pivac’s men 27-23 in Cardiff during this year’s Championship and Galthié has made just one change to the matchday 23 that emerged victorious in February.
Vincent Rattez is back on the wing as Gael Fickou shifts back to inside centre and Arthur Vincent takes his place on the bench, with Teddy Thomas preferred to in-form Arthur Retière.
Julien Marchand is also preferred to Camille Chat in the starting XV, which is the same Les Bleus side that opened the 2020 Championship with a victory against England in Paris.
The game provides an opportunity for both sides to set-up their preparations ahead of the return of the Guinness Six Nations and their Super Saturday encounters next weekend.
Les Bleus face Ireland in the final round and could still potentially lift the title despite their Grand Slam hopes being dashed by Scotland at BT Murrayfield in their last game in March.
France are currently joint top of the standings with England although their points difference is worse, meaning they must beat Andy Farrell’s Ireland in their last game.
To top the table, they need to match England’s result against Italy and then beat Ireland by three points more than England do the Azzurri – should the Red Rose do the business in Rome.
Romain Ntamack, who will start at No.10 on Saturday, scored 17 points when France last met Wales at Principality Stadium and Galthié will be hoping for a similar showing in Paris.
France team to face Wales (Stade de France, Saturday 24 October, KO 8pm UK)
France: Anthony Bouthier; Teddy Thomas, Vrimi Vakatawa, Gael Fickou, Vincent Rattez; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont; Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Mohamed Haouas; Bernard Le Roux, Damien Willemse; François Cros, Charles Ollivon (C), Gregory Aldritt
Replacements: Camille Chat, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Demba Bamba, Romain Taofifenua, Dylan Cretin, Baptiste Serin, Arthur Vincent, Thomas Ramos
