Slimani and Fall to start for France
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Prop Rabah Slimani and fullback Benjamin Fall have been named in France’s starting line-up to face Fiji in Paris this weekend, the French Rugby Federation announced on Thursday.
Slimani takes Cedate Gomes Sa’s place at tighthead and Fall comes in for the injured Maxime Medard at fullback for Saturday’s Test match at the Stade de France.
Medard suffered concussion in last Saturday’s victory over Argentina, which was Les Bleus’ first win since March.
Clermont front-rower Slimani’s last international start came against England earlier this year but he has featured as a substitute in the two previous November Tests against South Africa and the Pumas.
There are four new faces on the replacements bench including uncapped 20-year-old prop Demba Bamba and rookie hooker Julien Marchand.
France: 15 Benjamin Fall, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Gael Fickou, 11 Yoann Huget, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Baptiste Serin, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Arthur Iturria, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhem Guirado (captain), 1 Jefferson Poirot.
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Dany Priso, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Felix Lambey, 20 Kelian Galletier, 21 Antoine Dupont, 22 Anthony Belleau, 23 Geoffrey Doumayrou.
Date: Saturday, November 24
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 21.05 (20.00 GMT; 09.05 Fiji time Sunday, November 25)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Tom Foley (England), Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
Agence France-Presse
