Lievremont calls up Poitrenaud

France have brought three new faces into their squad for the clash with England on Saturday week

France have brought three new faces into their squad for the clash with England on Saturday week. Toulouse full-back Clement Poitrenaud is recalled, replacing Anthony Floch in the one change behind the scrum.

And in the pack, locks Romain Millo-Chlusky and Pascal Pape come in for the dropped Arnaud Mela and Loic Jacquet.

Head coach Marc Lievremont keeps faith with the front row that has struggled in patches in the wins against Scotland and Ireland over the first two weekends of the tournament.

That means there is no place for experienced prop Sylvain Marconnet, who is back in action after almost a year out with a leg injury.

Yannick Jauzion, France's star centre over the past few years, also misses out, despite recovering from recent injury problems.

France squad: M Parra (Bourgoin), J-B Elissalde (Toulouse), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), D Skrela (Stade Francais), D Traille (Biarritz), D Marty (Perpignan), V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont-Auvergne), C Heymans, C Poitrenaud (both Toulouse). J Brugnaut (Dax), L Faure (Sale), N Mas (Perpignan), D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), W Servat, R Millo-Chulsky (both Toulouse), P Pape (Stade Francais), L Nallet (Castres, capt), J Bonnaire (Clermont-Auvergne), T Dusautoir (Toulouse), F Ouedraogo, L Picamoles (both Montpellier).

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • What’s making headlines in the rugby world? Listen to The Counter Ruck podcast with Nathan Johns

  • Sign up for The Counter Ruck rugby digest to read Gerry Thornley’s weekly view from the press box