MARCOUSSIS – France coach Jacques Brunel brought back experienced fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc to his starting XV on Thursday in the only change to the team facing England in the Six Nations.
Lionel Beauxis drops to the bench at the Stade de France on Saturday against the reigning champions having started France's last two matches -- a 32-26 defeat to Scotland and 34-17 win over Italy.
Trinh-Duc had originally been left out of Brunel's Six Nations squad but an injury to teenager Matthieu Jalibert in their opening 15-13 defeat to Ireland and the suspension of Anthony Belleau following a controversial night out in Edinburgh after the Scotland defeat saw the 31-year-old recalled to the bench two weeks ago against Italy in Marseille.
Toulon No.10 Trinh-Duc, who has 64 France caps, was given only 10 minutes against Italy, kicking a conversion three minutes after entering the field.
His last start in a France shirt came in November's infamous 23-23 draw at home to Japan -- a humiliating result for a country with France's proud rugby history.
French team (15-1):
Hugo Bonneval; Benjamin Fall, Mathieu Bastareaud, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Remy Grosso; Francois Trinh-Duc, Maxime Machenaud; Marco Tauleigne, Yacouba Camara, Wenceslas Lauret, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Paul Gabrillagues, Rabah Slimani, Guilhelm Guirado (capt), Jefferson Poirot.
Replacements: Adrien Pelisse, Dany Priso, Cedate Gomes Sa, Romain Taofifenua, Kelian Galletier, Baptiste Couilloud, Lionel Beauxis, Gael Fickou
Coach: Jacques Brunel (FRA)