France Name Attacking Side for Romania

French Head Coach Phillipe Saint-André has made thirteen changes to his team that faced Italy on Saturday. Only no8 Louis Picamoles and left winger Noa Nakaitaci remain from the side which sees veteran hooker Dimitri Szarzewski named as captain.

Szarzewski will join the Belgium born Vincent Debaty and New Zealand Uinu Atonio in the front-row while South African Bernard Le Roux has been named out of position to play second-row. Alexandre Flanquart will join Le Roux in a new-look second-row with Yoann Maestri dropping the bench and Pascal Papé left out.

Completing the starting forwards will be the trio of Yannick Nyanga, Fulgence Ouedraogo and Louis Picamoles while Morgan Parra will play behind them at scrumhalf. The Clermont general is set to be the goalkicker with Remi Tales playing outside him at fly half.

Notable attacking options will exist in the mid-field with two of France’s most dangerous runners, Wesley Fofana and Gaël Fickou, to start together. Both have the pace of wingers and will be playing with three fast finishers in the form of Nakaitaci, Sofiane Guitoune and Brice Dulin.

FRANCE
1 Vincent Debaty 2 Dimitri Szarzewski (capt.) 3 Uini Atonio 4 Bernard le Roux 5 Alexandre Flanquart 6 Yannick Nyanga 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo 8 Louis Picamoles 9 Morgan Parra 10 Rémi Talès 11 Noa Nakaitaci 12 Wesley Fofana 13 Gaël Fickou 14 Sofiane Guitoune 15 Brice Dulin

16 Benjamin Kayser 17 Eddy Ben Arous 18 Nicolas Mas 19 Yoann Maestri 20 Damien Chouly 21 Rory Kockott 22 Frédéric Michalak 23 Mathieu Bastareaud