Flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert starts in one of two changes by head coach Fabien Galthie for France’s Six Nations Test against England at Twickenham on Saturday.

Jalibert replaces the suspended playmaker Romain Ntamack in a pair of changes to the team that started last week’s tournament-opening win over Wales in Paris – Jalibert’s Bordeaux-Begles teammate Damian Penaud comes in on the wing for Theo Attissogbe in the other change.

Ntamack misses the trip to London after being banned for a high tackle on Wales’ Ben Thomas with Jalibert stepping in to partner Antoine Dupont at halfback.

Jalibert, 26, will play his first Test since leaving the set-up in November for personal reasons.

Penaud is in line for his first Les Bleus game since last season’s tournament. He missed the November Tests with a lung virus and was absent from the victory over Wales with a toe issue, having only returned to training on Wednesday.

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The 28-year-old is just two tries away from Serge Blanco’s France scoring record of 38 and is in good form this season. He has crossed 15 times in 12 games for the French Top 14 leaders, including a Investec Champions Cup record of six tries in their 66-12 win over the Sharks last month.

Flanker Oscar Jegou and lock Hugo Auradou are once again selected on the bench after they were jeered on their first France appearances after being investigated over rape claims last year before they were dismissed.

The case in Argentina against the 21-year-old forwards was dropped in December, but the complainant’s lawyer has appealed with a hearing set to start on Monday.

Emilien Gailleton, who was born in Croydon just 15 miles from Twickenham, is also among the replacements to play his eighth Test.

Six Nations round 2 fixtures
Saturday:
Italy v Wales, 4.15pm (Stadio Olimpico)
England v France, 6.45pm (Twickenham)
Sunday:
Scotland v Ireland, 5pm (Murrayfield)

Photo: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images