JOHANNESBURG – Jules Plisson has been restored at flyhalf as one of three changes to the backline by France coach Guy Noves for the third and final test against South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday.
France are seeking a consolation win having been well beaten in the first two matches of the tour, and Noves has made a further six changes in a revamped bench.
Plisson started the first game in Pretoria and has been preferred in the number 10 jersey to Francois Trinh Duc, who is named among the replacements.
The other two changes to the starting XV are also in the backline as Brice Dulin comes in for South African-born Scott Spedding at fullback and Nans Ducuing gets a first test start ahead of Yoann Huget, who received a cut in his mouth last weekend.
Changes on the bench see prop Xavier Chiocci come in for Eddy Ben Arous, lock Paul Jedrasiak preferred to Julien le Devedec, flank Loann Goujon in for Bernard le Roux, scrumhalf Maxime Machenaud take over from Antoine Dupont, Trinh-Duc feature instead of Jean-Marc Doussain and Vincent Rattez take the place of Ducuing.
South Africa won the first test 37-14 and followed that up with a 37-15 victory in Durban last weekend. They have never beaten France before at Ellis Park though, losing all four previous tests.
France team:
15-Brice Dulin, 14-Nans Ducuing, 13-Damian Penaud, 12-Gael Fickou, 11-Virimi Vakatawa, 10-Jules Plisson, 9-Baptiste Serin, 8-Louis Picamoles, 7-Kevin Gourdon, 6-Yacouba Camara, 5- Romain Taofifenua, 4-Yoann Maestri, 3-Rabah Slimani, 2-Guilhem Guirado (captain), 1-Jefferson Poirot. Replacements: 16-Clement Maynadier, 17-Xavier Chiocci, 18-Uini Atonio, 19-Paul Jedrasiak, 20-Loann Goujon, 21-Maxime Machenaud, 22-Francois Trinh Duc, 23-Vincent Rattez.