Louis Picamoles will make his first start for France for almost a year as part of Jacques Brunel’s team to take on South Africa in their first autumn international this weekend.
The Montpellier No.8 has had a strong start to the Top 14 campaign and after a sole replacement appearance in the Six Nations earlier this year – against Scotland in Edinburgh – he’ll be on from the start for the first time since a draw with Japan in Paris last November.
Damian Penaud, whose five previous caps for Les Bleus have all come at centre, will make his maiden international appearance as a winger, opposite Teddy Thomas – who memorably notched three tries in the opening two games of the 2018 Six Nations.
There is also an end to the injury hell that has dogged the last 18 months for fly-half Camille Lopez as he will pull on the No.10 jersey to form a half-back pairing with Baptiste Serin.
Hooker Guilhem Guirado will skipper the side that runs out at the Stade de France, while Sébastien Vahaamahina is preferred to Paul Gabrillagues in the second row.
Despite his brilliant form since joining Stade Francais this summer, Gael Fickou must settle for a place on the bench – with Brunel opting for Geoffrey Doumayrou and Mathieu Bastareaud as his centre partnership – and Arthur Iturria returns at flanker.
The game against the Springboks kicks off at 9.05pm local time and Les Bleus will be keen to put a tricky summer tour of New Zealand behind them as they build towards the 2019 Six Nations.
A game against Argentina in Lille and Fiji, back at the Stade de France, follow the South Africa clash, with Brunel having admitted that he is keen to build depth in his squad this autumn.
France team to face South Africa at the Stade de France: 15. Maxime Medard (Toulouse), 14. Teddy Thomas (Racing 92), 13. Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), 12. Geoffrey Doumayrou (La Rochelle), 11. Damian Penaud (Clermont Auvergne), 10. Camille Lopez (Clermont Auvergne), 9. Baptiste Serin (Bordeaux Begles); 1. Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux Begles), 2. Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), 3. Cedate Gomes Sa (Racing 92), 4. Sebastien Vahaamahina (Clermont Auvergne), 5. Yoann Maestri (Stade Francais), 6. Wenceslas Lauret (Racing 92), 7. Arthur Iturria (Clermont Auvergne), 8. Louis Picamoles (Montpellier) Replacements: Camille Chat (Racing 92), Dany Priso (La Rochelle), Rabah Slimani (Clermont Auvergne), Paul Gabrillagues (Stade Français), Mathieu Babillot (Castres), Antoine Dupont (Toulouse), Anthony Belleau (Toulon), Gael Fickou (Stade Français)
