Racing Matro flank Wenceslas Lauret returns to the French lineup for the Six Nations match against Wales in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Friday night.
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Lauret was named on Wednesday to take over from Bernard Le Roux in the back row as the only change to the side that defeated Italy 30-10 in Paris in the last round of games.
He last played for France in the November Tests against world champions New Zealand and South Africa, but sustained a groin muscle injury late last year that sidelined him for several weeks.
He returned to action for his team in the Top-14 championship last Saturday and impressed France coach Philippe Saint-Andre in the 18-8 win over Bayonne.
“He turned in a quality performance against Bayonne and he was a logical choice for selection as he brings us balance to the back row,” Saint-Andre said.
Elsewhere the French have gone for stability following their two opening wins over England (26-24) and Italy, both chalked up in Paris.
Those wins opened up the possibility of a first French Six Nations Grand Slam since 2010, just a year after they finished with the wooden spoon.
France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Hugo Bonneval, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Jean-Marc Doussain, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Wenceslas Lauret, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Pascal Pape (Ccaptain), 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Thomas Domingo
Replacements: 16 Brice Mach, 17 Yannick Forestier, 18 Vincent Debaty, 19 Sbastien Vahaamahina, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 Remi Tales, Gael Fickou.