France coach Fabien Galthie has made three changes to his starting lineup for this weekend’s clash with Australia, recalling centre Gael Fickou and locks Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament.
Fickou, who started in the opening match against South Africa, returns at inside centre to replace the injured Pierre-Louis Barassi.
In the second row, Meafou and Flament, both of whom missed last week’s win over Fiji, come in for Romain Taofifenua and Charles Ollivon. The shift moves Ollivon, who was man of the match against Fiji, to flanker, where he will join Anthony Jelonch and captain Gregory Alldritt in the back row. Oscar Jegou moves to the bench.
“Meafou and Flament are available again, so we won’t deprive ourselves of having them start,” Galthie said. “Charles (Ollivon), with his performance in Bordeaux, has earned his place against Australia.”
Alldritt will lead the team for the second consecutive match. On the bench, centre Kalvin Gourgues is in line to earn his first cap as France seeks a convincing victory to conclude their Autumn International Series.
“There is a chance that we will be more consistent in this third match,” Galthie added. “Our ambition is clear: to perform.”
France Team:
15-Thomas Ramos, 14-Damian Penaud, 13-Nicolas Depoortere, 12-Gael Fickou, 11-Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10-Romain Ntamack, 9-Maxime Lucu, 8-Gregory Alldritt (captain), 7-Charles Ollivon, 6-Anthony Jelonch, 5-Emmanuel Meafou, 4-Thibaud Flament, 3-Regis Montagne, 2-Julien Marchand, 1-Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16-Maxime Lamothe, 17-Rodrigue Neti, 18-Thomas Laclayat, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Hugo Auradou, 21-Oscar Jegou, 22-Baptiste Jauneau, 23-Kalvin Gourgues
