France call on Thomas

Teddy Thomas will start on the right wing in one of six changes to France's lineup for Saturday's Six Nations clash with Ireland in Paris.

Two enforced changes were made with No 8 Louis Picamoles out through injury, while centre Gaël Fickou had withdrawn for personal reasons. They are replaced by Yacouba Camara and Maxine Mermoz respectively.

The rest of the changes are rotational following Les Bleus' narrow 23-21 win over Italy at the Stade de France.

In the only other swap to the backline, Thomas takes over from Hugo Bonneval who drops to the bench. Up front, coach Guy Novès trades in last week's starting props Eddy Ben Arous and Rabah Slimani for Jefferson Poirot and Uini Atonio. And in the second row, Alexandre Flanquart starts ahead of Paul Jedrasiak.

France – 15 Maxine Medard, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Maxine Mermoz, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Virimi Vakatawa, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Sebastien Bezy, 8 Yacouba Camara, 7 Damieb Chouly, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Alexandre Flanquart, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Guilhem Guirado (c), 1 Jefferson Poirot.
Subs: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Rabah Slimani, 18 Eddy Ben Arous, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Loann Goujon, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 Jean-Marc Doussain, 23 Hugo Bonneval.

Photo: Franck Fife/Getty Images

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