Damian Penaud is set for his first start of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations as France bid to take a step closer to the Grand Slam by beating Scotland at BT Murrayfield.
Penaud has not featured for Les Bleus since the World Cup because of a calf injury but comes straight back into Fabien Galthié’s XV as a direct replacement for Teddy Thomas.
Thomas has been released back to Racing 92 this weekend, meaning Gaël Fickou – France’s defensive captain, who excelled in the first two rounds of the Championship at inside centre – will again play on the left wing.
Penaud was around the France squad ahead of their 27-23 win at Wales but was not deemed fit enough to start, but Galthié says it was a no-brainer to bring him back in for the clash in Edinburgh.
“Damian came back to work with us on the third game. He did excellent training and regains his starting position,” said Galthié.
France’s other change sees Jefferson Poirot return at loosehead prop in place of the injured Cyril Baille.
Galthié added: “He has experience. He has very important assets. His qualities as a rugby player are indisputable. We have total confidence in him to support us.”
France have not won a Championship match at BT Murrayfield since 2014 but a victory this weekend will put them just one game away from the Grand Slam and their first Championship success in a decade.
France team to face Scotland: 15. Anthony Bouthier (Montpellier) 14. Damian Penaud (Clermont Auvergne) 13. Virimi Vakatawa (Racing 92) 12. Arthur Vincent (Montpellier) 11. Gaël Fickou (Stade Français) 10. Romain Ntamack (Toulouse) 9. Antoine Dupont (Toulouse) 1. Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux-Bègles) 2. Julien Marchand (Toulouse) 3. Mohamed Haouas (Montpellier) 4. Bernard Le Roux (Racing 92) 5. Paul Willemse (Montpellier) 6. François Cros (Toulouse) 7. Charles Ollivon (Toulon) (c) 8. Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle)
Replacements: 16. Camille Chat (Racing 92) 17. Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon) 18. Demba Bamba (Lyon) 19. Romain Taofifenua (Toulon) 20. Dylan Cretin (Lyon) 21. Baptiste Serin (Toulon) 22. Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Bègles) 23. Thomas Ramos (Toulouse)
