Rugby – Scotland v France team news:Controversial centre Mathieu Bastareaud was recalled to France's starting line-up for this weekend's Six Nations opener against Scotland as coach Marc Lievremont made several changes to side for the match at Murrayfield.
The 21-year-old Stade Francais player lost his place after making false claims he had been the victim of an attack in New Zealand last June before admitting he injured himself in a drunken fall in his hotel room.
"Mathieu called himself into question. We hope that what happened a few months ago helped him to grow up," Lievremont told reporters, hinting that the player was being given a second chance on the back of his strong showing in domestic rugby.
"We just hope he will confirm his good performances with his club on Sunday."
Lievremont has also handed a first Six Nations start to winger Benjamin Fall for Sunday's match in Edinburgh after the 20-year-old impressed on his debut against Samoa last November.
Other players earning recalls are fullback Clement Poitrenaud, wing Aurelien Rougerie and flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo, who all missed the November tests through injury or lack of form.
Francois Trinh-Duc has been handed the outhalf role, although there remains doubts over his participation following a shoulder injury.
Benjamin Boyet will come into the starting XV should the Montpellier player fail a fitness test.
Morgan Parra will start at scrumhalf role ahead of the returning Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, with Julien Dupuy ineligible as he serves a 23-week ban for eye-gouging.
Other notable absentees are Romain Millo-Chluski and Sebastien Chabal, who pulled out of the squad earlier this week through injury.
France(v Scotland): 15-Clement Poitrenaud, 14-Benjamin Fall, 13-Mathieu Bastareaud, 12-Yannick Jauzion, 11-Aurelien Rougerie, 10-Francois Trinh-Duc, 9-Morgan Parra, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7-Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6-Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5-Pascal Pape, 4-Lionel Nallet, 3-Nicolas Mas, 2-William Servat, 1-Thomas Domingo. Replacements:16-Dimitri Szarzewski, 17-Luc Ducalcon, 18-Julien Pierre, 19-Julien Bonnaire, 20-Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 21-David Marty, 22-Vincent Clerc.