France make two changes to their team to face Scotland

Fabien Galthie has made two changes to France’s starting XV for their round four Guinness Six Nations match at Scotland on Sunday. 

The only side still capable of achieving the Grand Slam in this year’s tournament, the French visit Murrayfield on the back of February wins over England, Italy and Wales which has them on course for a first title success since 2010. 

One of the changes from Cardiff has been injury-enforced, Jefferson Poirot taking advantage of the injury to Cyril Baille who had jumped ahead of him in the prop pecking order this year. Jean-Baptiste Gros remains on the bench as back-up. 

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The other switch sees fit-again winger Damian Penaud come in for Teddy Thomas. A calf injury had ruled Penaud out of the February matches but his return has resulted in Thomas’ exclusion from the squad. 

There had been doubt over whether hooker Camille Chat would be involved as he was injured in the win over Wales, but he has reported fit enough to take a spot on the bench in Edinburgh. 

FRANCE: A Bouthier (Montpellier); D Penaud (Clermont Auvergne), V Vakatawa (Racing 92), A Vincent (Montpellier), G Fickou (Stade Francais); R Ntamack (Toulouse), A Dupont (Toulouse); J Poirot (Bordeaux-Begles), J Marchand (Toulouse), M Haouas (Montpellier), B Le Roux (Racing 92), P Willemse (Montpellier), F Cros (Toulouse), C Ollivon (Toulon, capt), G Alldritt (La Rochelle). Reps: C Chat (Racing 92), J-B Gros (Toulon), D Bamba (Lyon), R Taofifenua (Toulon), D Cretin (Lyon), B Serin (Toulon), M Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles), T Ramos (Toulouse).

WATCH: Jim Hamilton previews the Murrayfield clash between Scotland and France