Experienced second-rower Paul Willemse will make his first Test start since last year’s Six Nations when France begin the defence of their title against Italy in Rome on Sunday.
Willemse was named in France’s starting lineup after missing five Tests last year with a knee injury.
The 30-year-old South African-born Montpellier lock picked up the injury last May and subsequently missed the July series against Japan and the November Tests against Australia, the Springboks and the Brave Blossoms.
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France also named a debutant for Sunday’s clash in winger Ethan Dumortier. The Lyon player comes in for Gabin Villiere, who has been ruled out of the entire Six Nations with a fractured fibula.
Gael Fickou and Yoram Moefana will pair up at centre after Jonathan Danty was also ruled out of the tournament through injury.
France are otherwise at full strength, with Antoine Dupont resuming his halfback partnership with flyhalf Romain Ntamack, while Thomas Ramos will start at fullback and Damian Penaud on the right wing.
France – 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Ethan Dumortier, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille.
Subs: 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Thomas Lavault, 21 Sekou Macalou, 22 Nolan Le Garrec, 23 Matthieu Jalibert.
Italy, meanwhile, will have Tommaso Allan at flyhalf as go-to No 10 Paolo Garbisi continues to recover from a knee injury.
2022 World Rugby Young Player of the Year Ange Capuozzo will start at fullback, but can be expected to be peppered by kicks from his Toulouse teammates Dupont and Ntamack.
Italy – 15 Ange Capuozzo; 14 Pierre Bruno, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Tommaso Menoncello; 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Stephen Varney; 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Sebastian Negri; 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone; 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Subs: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Edoardo Iachizzi, 20 Giovanni Pettinelli, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Alessandro Fusco, 23 Edoardo Padovani.
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