Doussain at fly-half for France

Editor

Toulouse half-back Jean-Marc Doussain will start at number ten for France this weekend when they take on Australia.

Doussain gets the nod ahead of Clermont’s Camille Lopez, and will form a half-back partnership with scrum-half Maxime Machenaud.

In total there are five changes made by Guy Novès to the side who defeated Samoa last weekend.

Elsehwere in the side Noa Nakaitaci starts on the right wing in place of Yoann Huget, joined in the back three by full-back Scott Spedding and wing Virimi Vakatawa. Wesley Fofana and Rémi Lamerat are unchanged in midfield.

Yoann Maestri will win for his 50th cap for les Bleus in the second row, where he is joined by Sébastian Vahaamahina.

Guilhem Guirado captains the side once again, teaming up with Cyril Baille and Uini Atonio in the front row, while the back row features Charles Ollivon, Kévin Gourdon and Louis Picamoles.

France: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Noa Nakaitaci, 13 Rémi Lamerat, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Virimi Vakatawa, 10 Jean-Marc Doussain, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Kévin Gourdon, 6 Charles Ollivon, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Sébastian Vahaamahina, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Guilhelm Guirado (c), 1  Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Xavier Chiocci, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Julien Le Devedec, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Camille Lopez, 23 Gaël Fickou

Date: Saturday, November 19
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 19:00 local (18:00 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Greg Garner (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)