France change half-back pairing for Scotland clash

Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont will make up France’s half-back pairing for Saturday’s home Six Nations meeting with Scotland as Les Bleus make four changes from the defeat to England.

Jacques Brunel’s side were soundly thrashed 44-8 at Twickenham last time out, which came on the back of their 24-19 loss to Wales in Paris to open the tournament.

And Brunel has responded to those disappointing results by making alterations at nine and 10, as Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez drop out of the matchday 23 with Dupont and Ntamack given the nod to start at scrum-half and fly-half respectively.

Ntamack, the son of former Les Bleus utility back Emile, made his debut at outside centre against Wales and came off the bench versus England.

The other changes see Thomas Ramos handed a maiden start at full-back, with Yoann Huget switching from 15 to the left wing and Gael Fickou moving inside to the centre, while Wenceslas Lauret is picked at flanker in place of Yacouba Camara.

 Voici la composition de votre #XVdeFrance pour le 3e match du @SixNations_FR contre @Scotlandteam, samedi au @StadeFrance ! #FRAECO #NeFaisonsXV pic.twitter.com/SENrmsaHiL

— FF Rugby (@FFRugby) February 19, 2019

France XV to face Scotland: Thomas Ramos, Damian Penaud, Mathieu Bastareaud, Gael Fickou, Yoann Huget, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont; Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Demba Bamba, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Felix Lambey, Wenceslas Lauret, Arthur Iturria, Louis Picamoles.

Replacements: Camille Chat, Etienne Falgoux, Dorian Aldegheri, Paul Willemse, Gregory Alldritt, Baptiste Serin, Anthony Belleau, Maxime Medard.

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