Bastareaud to lead France as Brunel changes three

Mathieu Bastareaud will captain France in place of the injured Guilhem Guirado as Jacques Brunel makes three changes for their final 2018 Six Nations fixture against Wales.

Hooker Guirado has been ruled out with a knee problem and his place is taken by Adrien Pelissie, with bruising centre Bastareaud to lead the side in Cardiff on Saturday.

Gael Fickou is selected on the wing, from where Benjamin Fall moves to full-back with Hugo Bonneval missing out due to a failed head injury assessment, and Cedate Gomes Sa replaces Rabah Slimani in the front row.

Les Bleus, who ended England’s faint title hopes with a 22-16 victory in Paris last weekend, are one of four sides – along with opponents Wales – who can finish second behind champions Ireland, who are chasing the Grand Slam at Twickenham.

 Rendez-vous samedi à 18h à Cardiff pour le #XVdeFrance ! Voici les joueurs sélectionnés par Jacques Brunel et son staff pour ce dernier match du tournoi des @SixNationsRugby ! #PDGFRA #soutiensleXV pic.twitter.com/UhvN76zaZZ

— FF Rugby (@FFRugby) March 15, 2018

France: Benjamin Fall, Gael Fickou, Mathieu Bastareaud (captain), Geoffrey Doumayrou, Remy Grosso, Francois Trinh-Duc, Maxime Machenaud; Jefferson Poirot, Adrien Pelissie, Cedate Gomes Sa, Paul Gabrillagues, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Wenceslas Lauret, Yacouba Camara, Marco Tauleigne.

Replacements: Camille Chat, Dany Priso, Rabah Slimani, Bernard Le Roux, Mathieu Babillot, Baptiste Couilloud, Lionel Beauxis, Geoffrey Palis.

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