Autumn Nations Series | Galthié makes six changes for Georgia match

by Steve Price

France have made six changes for Sunday’s Autumn Nations Series clash with Georgia, as Fabien Galthié looks to rotate his squad.

Five of those changes have come in the pack, including a whole new second-row as Cameron Woki and Romain Taofifenua are promoted to the engine room in place of Thibaud Flament and Paul Willemse.

Sekou Macalou and Grégory Alldritt are recalled to the back row, while Anthony Jelonch keeps his place but shifts from No.8 to blindside flanker.

Tighthead prop Uini Atonio comes in for Mohamed Haouas, while in the back three Matthis Lebel starts on the left wing over Gabin Villière.

Scrum-half Antoine Dupont captains France, while the exciting Matthieu Jalibert-Romain Ntamack partnership at fly-half and inside centre is again allowed to flourish.

Flament, Willemse and Francois Cros all drop to the bench, while Demba Bamba is called into the matchday 23.

France: 15. Melvyn Jaminet, 14. Damian Penaud, 13. Gaël Fickou, 12. Romain Ntamack, 11. Matthis Lebel, 10. Matthieu Jalibert, 9. Antoine Dupont (c), 1. Cyril Baille, 2. Julien Marchand, 3. Uini Atonio, 4. Cameron Woki, 5. Romain Taofifenua, 6. Anthony Jelonch, 7. Sekou Macalou, 8. Grégory Alldritt

Replacements: 16. Peato Mauvaka, 17. Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18. Demba Bamba, 19. Thibaud Flament 20. Paul Willemse, 21. François Cros, 22. Maxime Lucu, 23. Jonathan Danty.

Georgia: 15. David Niniashvili, 14. Akaki Tabutsadze, 13. Giorgi Kveseladze, 12. Merab Sharikadze, 11. Alexandre Todua, 10. Tedo Abzhandadze, 9. Vasil Lobzhanidze; 1. Beka Gigashvili, 2. Shalva Mamukashvili, 3. Giorgi Melikidze, 4. Grigor Kerdikoshvili, 5. Kote Mikautadze, 6. Beka Saginadze, 7. Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 8. Beka Gorgadze

Replacements: 16. Giorgi Chkoidze, 17. Guram Gogichashvili, 18. Luka Japaridze, 19. Nodar Cheishvili, 20. Tornike Jalagonia, 21. Mikheil Alania, 22. Lasha Khmaladze, 23. Demur Tapladze