New captain, 12 changes for France
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Les Blues head coach Fabien Galthié has made 12 changes to his starting XV to face Uruguay in the World Cup in Stade de Pierre-Mauroy in Lille on Thursday.
Only three players have retained their positions from the side that defeated New Zealand in their World Cup opening match while a new captain has also been appointed.
Anthony Jelonch will captain the side for the first time since their 2021 tour of Australia.
Cameron Woki, Gabin Villiere and Yoram Moefana are the only survivors from the World Cup opener.
There are no survivors in the match-day 23 from the last French team to play at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in 2018 against Argentina.
Antoine Hastoy will make only his third start in his fifth career test after making his debut against Australia in 2021.
He has never played more than 67 minutes in a single test in his career, and is still chasing his first points for Les Bleus.
Thomas Ramos has scored 14 points or more in each of his past 11 tests dating back to November 2022 against Australia. He averaged 17 points per game in 2023 and has not missed more than two kicks at goal in a test this season.
Fabien Galthié has won 21 of 22 tests in France as head coach, one more than he did as a player with 20 wins from 33 tests played on home soil.
France: 15 Melvyn Jaminet, 14 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 13 Arthur Vincent, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Gabin Villière, 10 Antoine Hastoy, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Anthony Jelonch (captain), 7 Sekou Macalou, 6 Paul Boudehent, 5 Romain Taofifenua, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Pierre Bourgarit, Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements:16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Bastien Chalureau, 20 Thibaud Flament, 21 Francois Cros, 22 Baptiste Couilloud, 23 Thomas Ramos
Date: Thursday, September 14
Venue: Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille
Kick-off: 21.00 (19.00 GMT; 16.00 UYT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Additional source @WorldRugby
