Former skipper James Horwill returns to Wallabies starting line-up

Former captain James Horwill has been recalled to Australia's starting line-up in place of Sam Carter for their test against France in Paris on Saturday.

The 29-year-old lock's elevation from the bench for his third start in nine tests this year is the only change to the team who beat Wales 33-28 in Cardiff last week.

Horwill, who led the Wallabies at the 2011 World Cup and again in 2013, had been relegated to Australia's reserves for most of the last season.

Coach Michael Cheika has yet to finalise his bench and, as is his custom, will wait until the last minute to name the seven replacements.

Sekope Kepu of the New South Wales Waratahs will become the sixth Australian prop to play 50 tests after retaining his place in a pack which struggled against the Welsh and gave up a penalty-try from a five-metre scrum.

Horwill's recall to play alongside his Queensland Reds team-mate Rob Simmons is an indication that Cheika is seeking more aggression from his forwards.

Australia swept France 3-0 under Cheika's predecessor Ewen McKenzie in a series on home soil in June, but the new coach expects a much stiffer challenge in Paris, where the Wallabies were beaten 33-6 two years ago.