France have handed a Test debut to 20-year-old centre Fabien Brau-Boirie for Sunday’s Six Nations clash against Wales.
Head coach Fabien Galthié has made just two changes to the side that dismantled Ireland.
Brau-Boirie will partner his Pau teammate Emilien Gailleton in midfield after Bordeaux-Bègles duo Nicolas Depoortere and Yoram Moefana were ruled out through injury. The rest of the starting XV remains unchanged from the 36-14 victory over Ireland in the tournament opener.
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Galthié had hinted at the Pau combination earlier in the week, with the pair training together alongside the likely starters.
“It’s true that it helps save time in terms of interplay when it’s a pair of centres who already play together,” attack coach Patrick Arlettaz said.
“However, it’s the national team, you have to deserve to play. It’s better to have the best players on the pitch” regardless of which clubs they represent.
Arlettaz compared Brau-Boirie to former France great Yannick Jauzion, saying “he has that kind of talent… to be understated and very effective, to make others around him play well”, while also praising Gailleton’s recent form among “a whole host of centres with enormous potential”.
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On the bench, Stade Français centre Noah Nene could also make his debut, replacing the injured Kalvin Gourgues. Maxime Lamothe covers hooker, while lock Thibaud Flament returns to the matchday squad.
France, who have won their last seven against Wales, will look to extend that run in Cardiff.
FRANCE – 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Emilien Gailleton, 12 Fabian Brau-Boirie, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Oscar Jegou, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Mickael Guillard, 4 Charles Ollivon, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Bench: 16 Maxime Lamothe, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Thibaud Flament, 20 Emmanuel Meafou, 21 Lenni Nouchi, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Noah Nene.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images
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