FRANCE have named a heavyweight pack and teenage centre Romain Ntamack for the Six Nations opener against Wales in Paris.
Les Bleus have gone for bulk up front with South African-born Paul Willemse making his debut at lock and captain Guilhem Guirado leading the charge from hooker in between hefty props Jefferson Poirot and Uini Atonio.
Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez pull the strings with Toulouse prospect Ntamack, son of legendary wing Emile, making his Test bow next to the dangerous Wesley Fofana.
There is no place in the matchday squad for Mathieu Bastareaud.
France: Maxime Medard; Damian Penaud, Wesley Fofana, Romain Ntamack, Yoann Huget; Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra; Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Uini Atonio, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Paul Willemse, Wenceslas Laurent, Arthur Iturria, Louis Picamoles.
Replacements: Julien Marchand, Dany Priso, Demba Bamba, Felix Lambey, Gregory Alldritt, Baptiste Serin, Gael Fickou, Geoffrey Doumayrou.
đŤđˇđ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż Voici la composition de votre #XVdeFrance pour l'ouverture du tournoi des @SixNations_FR contre le Pays-de-Galles ! #NeFaisonsXV #FRAPDG pic.twitter.com/X3itWclpJO
â FF Rugby (@FFRugby) January 30, 2019
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