Six Nations
Kockott and Spedding to start for France
ESPN Staff
February 4, 2015
Rory Kockott was made eligible for France in 2014 having spent over three years there © Getty Images
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France have handed starts to South African-born duo Rory Kockott and Scott Spedding for their Six Nations Opener against Scotland in Paris.

Kockott makes his first France start at scrumhalf having been preferred to Morgan Parra, while Spedding will start at full back after coach Philippe Saint-André named his starting XV on Wednesday.

Castres player Kockott won his first three caps coming off the bench for France in the November Tests against Fiji, Australia and Argentina, having become eligible in 2014. He replaces Sebastien Tillous-Bordes at scrumhalf, with the latter missing the Stade de France clash with a knee injury.

Spedding starts despite the recent return to fitness of Brice Dulin, who has just recovered from an arm injury. He missed the November Tests with a stress fracture.

Teddy Thomas returns to the fold having missed the last Test against Argentina for missing a team meeting. However, veteran Nicolas Mas has been replaced at loosehead by Rabah Slimani.

France finished fourth in last year's Six Nations but were last in 2013.

France: Spedding, Huget, Bastareaud, Fofana, Thomas, Lopez, Kockott, Menini, Dusautoir (cap), Le Roux, Maestri, Pape, Slimani, Guirado, Chouly

Replacements: Kayser, Atonio, Ben Arous, Taofifenua, Goujon, Parra, Tales, Lamerat

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