Six Nations
France make sweeping changes for Italy clash
ESPN Staff
March 12, 2015
Philippe Saint-Andre hands a Test debut to Noa Nakaitaci © Getty Images
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Philippe Saint-Andre has ripped up his France side with a mammoth eight changes for this weekend's Six Nations clash against Italy.

France have endured a campaign to forget with their defeat to Wales ending any lingering title hopes.

Morgan Parra, Remi Lamerat and Wesley Fofana are absent due to injury, while Uini Atonio and Brice Dulin miss out altogether.

Maxime Mermoz and Gael Fickou make up a new centre partnership in place of Lamerat and Fofana, while Scott Spedding returns at full-back.

Noa Nakaitaci makes his Test debut on the left wing in place of injured Sofiane Guitoune, while Loann Goujon makes his first start at No.8 and Nicolas Mas comes in at tighthead prop for the benched Rabah Slimani.

Romain Taofifeuna and Damien Chouly drop out of the starting XV, with half-backs Rory Kockott and Jules Plisson also included among the substitutes.

France: Scott Spedding, Yoann Huget, Gael Fickou, Maxime Mermoz, Noa Nakaitaci, Camille Lopez, Sebastian Tillous-Borde, Loann Goujon, Bernard le Roux, Thierry Dusautoir (c), Yoann Maestri, Alexandre Flanquart, Nicolas Mas, Guilhem Guirado, Eddy Ben Arous

Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Rabah Slimani, Vincent Debaty, Romain Taofifenua, Damien Chouly, Rory Kockott, Jules Plisson, Mathieu Bastareaud

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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