French merry-go-round continues
Young Stade Francais flyhalf Jules Plisson has been called up for France's final Six Nations clash with England on Saturday as coach Philippe Saint-Andre named a 16th different halfback pairing.
Plisson, 23, comes in for injured first-choice No.10 Camille Lopez, who misses the game at Twickenham due to a knee problem.
With Sebastien Tillous-Borde remaining at scrumhalf, it will be the 16th different halfback pairing Saint-Andre has picked in just over three years and now 37 matches at the France helm.
Clermont's Lopez, who has been Saint-Andre's first-choice playmaker for France's last seven internationals dating back to the November Tests, was on Wednesday ruled out for four to six weeks.
Saint-Andre defended his rotation, saying he had no choice in changing his halfback partnership.
"Clermont said he [Lopez] needed four to six weeks of rest. I need a player who is 100 percent at Twickenham," said the former international wing.
Plisson will be earning his sixth France cap having come on at half-time for Lopez last week in the 29-0 victory over Italy in Rome.
He also started the first four Six Nations matches in last season's tournament, including a 26-24 victory over England at the Stade de France.
Since then, however, he had fallen out of favour with Saint-Andre, until being called up last week in place of Remi Tales to deputise for Lopez.
The only other change sees Vincent Debaty replace Eddy Ben Arous at prop after the latter suffered an injury to his arm.
Tales and Uini Atonio replace Plisson and Debaty on the France bench.
Last week, Saint-Andre had made eight changes to his starting line-up following back-to-back defeats against Ireland and at home to Wales.
But the French performed much better in ending a run of two straight defeats in Rome and the coach said that group deserved another chance.
"We wanted to keep faith with the group that showed huge spirit in tough conditions both, meteorological and extra-sporting, during the week," said Saint-Andre.
It means the likes of No.8 Loann Goujon, centres Gael Fickou and Maxime Mermoz and Fiji-born wing Noa Nakaitaci all kept their places in the side, as well as veteran prop Nicolas Mas.
Popular barrel-chested centre Mathieu Bastareaud has had to settle for a place on the bench for the third match in a row.
Outsiders France can still win the Six Nations but will need to not only beat England by at least eight points, but also hope that Ireland lose in Scotland and Wales are beaten in Italy.
France: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Sebastian Tillous-Borde, 8 Loann Goujon, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Alexandre Flanquart, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Vincent Debaty.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Rabah Slimani, 18 Uini Atonio, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Remi Tales, 23 Mathieu Bastareaud.
Date: Saturday, March 21
Venue: Twickenham, London
Kick-off: 17.00 (17.00 GMT; 18.00 French time)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Johnny Lacey (Ireland), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Agence France-Presse
