France make multiple changes to team for Scotland game
France have made four changes to the side that were thrashed 44-8 by England for their upcoming Guinness Six Nations match with Scotland.
Head coach Jacques Brunel has decided to give youth it’s chance with an inexperienced halfback combination of 22-year-old scrum-half Antoine Dupont and 19-year-old Toulouse teammate Romain Ntamack, They replace Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez, who drop out of the 23-man squad altogether.
Another of Toulouse’s backline gets a nod – 23-year-old Thomas Ramos. He starts at full-back having made his international debut off the bench against England. Yoann Huget, who struggled in the position at Twickenham, returns to the wing.
🇫🇷🏴 Voici la composition de votre #XVdeFrance pour le 3e match du @SixNations_FR contre @Scotlandteam, samedi au @StadeFrance ! #FRAECO #NeFaisonsXV pic.twitter.com/SENrmsaHiL
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 19, 2019
The other switch in the backline sees Gael Fickou moved from the wing to inside centre in place of Geoffrey Doumayrou, who fails to make the 23. Mathieu Bastareaud will be alongside Fickou.
There is just one change in the forwards and it comes in the backrow, with Wenceslas Lauret, who started against Wales on matchday one, selected at blindside instead of Yacouba Camara.
France will be looking to maintain their impressive record against Scotland, they have lost in Paris to the Scots since 1999. Jacques Brunel’s are searching for their first win of the championship having blown a 16-0 half-time lead against Wales to lose 24-19, followed by their worst defeat at Twickenham in over a century.
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
3. Demba Bamba
4. Sébastien Vahaamahina
5. Félix Lambey
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
Watch: Jacques Brunel and Guilhem Guirado reflect on England defeat