SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS: The France manager Jo Maso has urged his side not to underestimate Scotland when the two clash at the Stade de France this weekend.

The defending champions are eager to bounce back from their 25-17 defeat to England at Twickenham and face a Scotland side hurting after they were thrashed 36-6 by Ireland.

Even if the French start as favourites in the Stade de France, Maso has warned his players to remain cautious as they need a win to boost their spirits for the rest of the tournament, as well as for their summer tour and the World Cup this autumn.

"We lost to the English after having fought with all our heart, but they were just stronger," he said. "We have four matches left and we can still win the tournament.

"We are preparing ourselves, probably even harder than against England, to beat Scotland and win the remaining three ties. Everything is possible.

"We have to be careful and avoid thinking that we can beat Scotland easily.

"This tournament remains magic and open. We must win against Scotland even if it won't be easy, but we need to reassure ourselves ahead of our summer tour and the World Cup.

"The strength of great teams is to bounce back straight after a defeat."

Coach Bernard Laporte also insisted on being wary of the Scottish side.

"Scotland just got thrashed by Ireland, but we should not take this match as a reference, but rather the one against South Africa, whom they hammered 26-3 in November," he said.

"We will have to be more aggressive collectively and more efficient in defence, make that area our best asset.

"England had very few chances to score tries, but they pushed us into errors on Saturday."

Laporte announced his starting line-up with two main changes from the defeat to England.

Prop forward Sylvain Marconnet will replace Christian Califano, while outhalf Gerald Merceron's three key missed kicks at Twickenham have cost his first-team status to young talent Francois Gelez.

Meanwhile, Robbie Morris will celebrate his 21st birthday tomorrow looking forward to his international debut in Saturday's Six Nations clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium after England's prop forward jinx struck again.

Northampton youngster Morris was called up by England coach Clive Woodward after Bristol's Julian White was ruled out by knee ligament damage aggravated during victory over France.

"Obviously I'm disappointed for Julian but it's an opportunity I intend to make the most of. I've enjoyed being part of the England set-up over the last few months and I'm really looking forward to making my debut against Wales," said Morris, whose elevation to full international status comes after just 32 first-team appearances for his club and two games for the England A team.

White will undergo an operation today which is expected to keep him out for between three and six weeks.

Jonathan Humphreys will lead Wales into battle. And if his unexpected 34th cap - more than three years after the 33rd - was a shock, it came as nothing to the surprise element that coach Steve Hansen sprung on him yesterday.

Hansen has turned to Humphreys as captaincy replacement for Colin Charvis, who is dropped to the bench following Wales' dismal 30-22 defeat against Italy in Rome last weekend.

Charvis was not the only casualty from that debacle, with Iestyn Harris, Leigh Davies, Dwayne Peel, Mefin Davies and Michael Owen also axed.

There are eight changes in total, including one positional switch as full back Rhys Williams moves to the wing in place of the injured Mark Jones.

But it is Humphreys who will command centre stage between now and Saturday as Wales target a first Cardiff victory over England since 1993.

"It is a huge surprise," said Humphreys, who joined Bath last summer after 13 years with Cardiff. "(Wales team manger) Alan Phillips rang me last night and asked if I would come over and help out. I had a chat with Steve (Hansen) this morning, and he said he would like me to start and be captain.

"It is something that you would never, ever turn down, but this is definitely not long-term. I see it as helping out, and I am more than happy to do so.

"It is all a bit surreal, but if you look at the hooking situation then there are an unusual number of injuries and there are a lot of people who would have been picked ahead of me - I am the first to admit that."

Humphreys captained Wales on 17 occasions between 1995 and 1997, winning six and losing 11 of his 17 matches in charge, but the task awaiting him on Saturday is undoubtedly far greater than anything else he would have experienced in a Wales jersey.

"I was obviously dismayed and upset by what happened in Italy last weekend, and I intend to make sure that everyone plays with a courage and desire."

Humphreys added: "I think that the attitude is there for Saturday, and it is a huge opportunity for everyone against an England side that I think is the best in the world at the moment.

"I would like everyone to play with confidence and courage. If you can do that, then you don't end up far short.

"Welsh rugby does need to stand up for itself on Saturday - we have to go out there and be positive."

Humphreys hit back at some of the criticism Charvis has received. "I have been horrified by some of the things in the press -- they've had him as one of the most hated men around, which is horrific.

"Again I hope that Colin can now regather himself, comes back to being the world-class player we know he is and then takes over the captaincy again. I am sure that Colin will come back - he is a huge player."

WALES (v England at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday): K Morgan (Swansea); R Williams (Cardiff), M Taylor (Swansea), T Shanklin (Saracens), G Thomas (Bridgend); C Sweeney (Pontypridd), G Cooper (Bath); I Thomas (Llanelli), J Humphreys (Bath, capt), B Evans (Swansea), R Sidoli (Pontypridd), S Williams (Northampton), D Jones (Llanelli), M Williams (Cardiff), G Thomas (Bath). Replacements: G Williams (Bridgend), G Jenkins (Pontypridd), G Llewellyn (Neath), C Charvis (Swansea), D Peel (Llanelli), I Harris (Cardiff), M Watkins (Llanelli).

FRANCE (v Scotland at Stade de France on Sunday): C Pointrenaud; A Rougerie, X Garbajosa, D Traille, V Clerc; F Gelez, F Galthie; J-J Crenca, R Ibanez, S Marconnet, F Pelous, O Brouzet, S Betsen, O Magne, I Harinordoquy. Replacements: J-B Rue, C Califano, D Auradou, S Chabal, D Yachvili, G Merceron, T Castaignede.