Parra replaced by Kockott

Editor

France head coach Philippe Saint-André has made four changes to his 30-man squad that will prepare to take on Italy, as Rory Kockott returns.

Castres number nine Kockott comes in for the injured Morgan Parra while prop Nicolas Mas, centre Maxime Mermoz and second-row Alexandre Flanquart also earn calls for the team's penultimate Six Nations game of the year in Rome.

Toulon's Mermoz comes in due to the absence of injured duo Wesley Fofana and Remi Lamerat, joining Mathieu Bastareaud and Gael Fickou as options.

Louis Picamoles has not been named as he continues his return from injury, playing for Toulouse in their Top 14 fixture against Oyonnax on Friday.

France squad preparing to face Italy

Props: Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Eddy Ben Arous (Racing Metro), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Rabah Slimani (Stade Français)

Hookers: Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont)

Second-rows: Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Français), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Jocelino Suta (Toulon), Romain Taofifenua (Toulon)

Back-rows: Damien Chouly (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, cap.), Loann Goujon (La Rochelle), Wencelas Lauret (Racing Metro), Bernard Le Roux (Racing Metro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse)

Scrum-halves: Rory Kockott (Castres), Sébastien Tillous-Borde (Toulon)

Fly-halves: Camille Lopez (Clermont), Jules Plisson (Stade Français), Rémi Talès (Castres)

Centres: Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon)

Wings: Sofiane Guitoune (Bordeaux-Bègles), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont)

Full-backs: Brice Dulin (Racing Metro), Scott Spedding (Bayonne)