France coach Jacques Brunel has made five changes to his starting XV, with Mathieu Bastareaud starting the Six Nations clash with Italy in Marseille on Friday, and a further six new faces on the replacements bench.
After back-to-back defeats and a much publicised night out, following their last defeat to Scotland, Brunel wielded the axe. Louis Picamoles, Anthony Belleau, Jonathan Danty, Remi Lamerat, Yacouba Camara and Felix Lambey were among those questioned after an incident in Edinburgh and were dropped from the squad alongside the competitions top try-scorer Teddy Thomas.
That has left the door open for the return of Toulon's Bastareaud after the centre missed the opening two games due to a suspension for a homophobic slur in the Champions Cup. He comes into a backline that features Remy Grosso, whose only cap came against Canada in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
He replaces Virimi Vakatawa on the wing, with Benjamin Fall starting on the other wing in place of Thomas and Hugo Bonneval comes in at fullback, as Geoffrey Palis drops out.
The only change in the pack sees Paul Gabrillagues come in for Arthur Iturria, while their could be a first cap for Baptiste Couilloud from the bench. François Trinh-Duc, who hasn't played since France drew with Japan last November, and Gael Fickou join him on the bench.
France team to face Italy
Bonneval, Fall, Bastareaud, Doumayrou, Grosso, Beauxis, Machenaud; Poirot, Guirado (captain), Slimani, Gabrillagues, Vahaamahina, Lauret, Camara, Tauleigne.
Replacements: Pelissie, Gomes Sa, Taofifenua, Galletier, Couilloud, Trinh Duc, Fickou.