TWELVE PERSONNEL CHANGES and even more positional switches have been the order of the day for France head coach Phillipe Saint-Andre ahead of Thurdsay’s Pool D meeting with Canada in Milton Keynes.
The French look close to full-strength, as they build towards what looks like being a group decider against Ireland on October 11.
With 10 days to rest between the meeting with Canada and the game against Ireland in Cardiff, France have named a strong side with 12 fresh faces coming into the starting line-up, including a debut for winger Remy Grosso, called-up to replace the injured Yoann Huget.
It looks like being a full-strength front and second row, with a trio of Eddy Ben Arous, Guilhem Guirado and Rabah Slimani up front, and the regular pair of Yoann Maestri and Pascal Pape in the second row.
The back row is also completely changed, with Thierry Dusatior returning to captain the side from openside flanker, Bernard Le Roux moving back from second row to blindside, and Damien Chouly at number 8.
Louis Picamoles is a notable absentee in the pack, with the Toulouse man seemingly rested after starting the opening two games of the tournament.
Saint-Andre has reverted to his halfback pairing from the win against Italy with Sebastien Tillous-Borde starting inside Frederic Michalak, while at inside centre Wesley Fofana is the only player to retain both his place and position from the win against Romania last Wednesday.
He’s joined in the centre by the returning Mathieu Bastareaud, with Brice Dulin switching to the left wing, Remy Grosso making his debut at 14, and Scott Spedding completing the selection from fullback.
France (v Canada)
15. Scott Spedding
14. Remy Grosso
13. Mathieu Bastareaud
12. Wesley Fofana
11. Brice Dulin
10. Frederic Michalak
9. Sebastien Tillous-Borde
1. Eddy Ben Arous
2. Guilhem Guirade
3. Rabah Slimani
4. Pascal Pape
5. Yoann Maestri
6. Thierry Dusatoir
7. Bernard Le Roux
8. Damien Chouly
Replacements
16. Benjamin Kayser
17. Vincent Debaty
18. Nicolas Mas
19. Yannick Nyanga
20. Fulgence Ouedraogo
21. Morgan Parra
22. Remi Tales
23. Alexandre Dumoulin
