France make one change for clash with Wales
Racing Metro flanker Wenceslas Lauret returns to the French line-up for the Six Nations match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Friday night.
Racing Metro flanker Wenceslas Lauret returns to the French line-up for the Six Nations match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Friday night.
Lauret was named on Wednesday to take over from Bernard Le Roux in the back row as the only change to the side that defeated Italy 30-10 in Paris in the last round of games.
He last played for France in the November tests against world champions New Zealand and South Africa, but sustained a groin muscle injury late last year that sidelined him for several weeks.
He returned to action for his team in the Top-14 championship last Saturday and impressed France coach Philippe Saint-Andre in the 18-8 win over Bayonne.
“He turned in a quality performance against Bayonne and he was a logical choice for selection as he brings us balance to the back row,” Saint-Andre said.
Elsewhere the French have gone for stability following their two opening wins over England (26-24) and Italy, both chalked up in Paris.
Those wins opened up the possibility of a first French Six Nations grand slam since 2010, just a year after they finished with the wooden spoon.
France squad
Brice Dulin; Yoann Huget, Mathieu Bastareaud, Wesley Fofana, Hugo Bonneval; Jules Plisson, Jean-Marc Doussain; Louis Picamoles, Wenceslas Lauret, Yannick Nyanga; Yoann Maestri, Pascal Pape (captain); Nicolas Mas, Dimitri Szarzewski, Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: Brice Mach, Yannick Forestier, Vincent Debaty, Sibastien Vahaamahina, Damien Chouly, Maxime Machenaud, Remi Tales, Gael Fickou.
