Fall and Slimani earn France recalls
Benjamin Fall and Rabah Slimani have been recalled to France’s starting XV for this weekend’s clash with Fiji in Paris.
France ended their five-game losing run against Argentina last weekend and the majority of that team retain their places in Jacques Brunel’s side.
Two-try hero Teddy Thomas starts on the right wing, while scrum-half Baptiste Serin will look to repeat his accuracy from the tee after kicking 13 points against the Pumas.
Fall comes into the backline in place of Maxime Medard, while Slimani – who wins his 50th cap – slots in at tighthead prop alongside captain Guilhem Guirado and Jefferson Poirot.
Brunel also makes changes in the replacements with Julien Marchard and Demba Bamba set to make their Test debuts, the duo joined by Felix Lambey, Kelian Galletier and Geoffrey Doumayrou on the bench.
Il reste un match à jouer ! Objectif : terminer 2018 de la meilleure des manières ! Voici la composition de votre #XVdeFrance pour affronter les Fidji samedi soir au @StadeFrance ! #NeFaisonsXV #FRAFIJ pic.twitter.com/klHdfnV5B9
— FF Rugby (@FFRugby) November 22, 2018
France: Benjamin Fall, Teddy Thomas, Mathieu Bastareaud, Gael Fickou, Yoann Huget, Camille Lopez, Baptiste Serin; Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado, Rabah Slimani, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Yoan Maestri, Wenceslas Lauret, Arthur Iturria, Louis Picamoles
Replacements: Julien Marchand, Dany Priso, Demba Bamba, Felix Lambey, Kelian Galletier, Antoine Dupont, Anthony Belleau, Geoffrey Doumayrou
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