Maxime Mermoz has been recalled by France © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Sebastien Chabal | Yannick Jauzion | Maxime Mermoz

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations

Teams: France | Scotland

Yannick Jauzion and Sebastien Chabal have failed to make the cut for France's Six Nations opener against Scotland at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Racing Metro back-rower Chabal must make do with a place on the bench as Imanol Harinordoquy has been restored at No.8, while Jauzion has been omitted from the 22 altogether.

Perpignan's Maxime Mermoz will wear the No.12 jersey as a result, with Clermont Auvergne skipper Aurelien Rougerie retained at outside-centre despite a patchy showing during their November internationals.

Montpellier's Francois Trinh-Duc returns to partner Morgan Parra at halfback, meaning a move to fullback for the versatile Damien Traille. Toulouse's Clement Poitrenaud will cover both fullback and centre from the bench.

"We opted for a three-quarter line with a lot of punch. We want some impetus," Lievremont said.

"To go without somebody like Yannick Jauzion, considering what he represents from a human and a sporting point of view, was not easy. But after a complicated year, Maxime Mermoz is in the form of his life.

"In my opinion, he forms a good attacking triangle with Francois Trinh-Duc and Aurelien Rougerie."

The front-row remains settled as Clermont loose-head Thomas Domingo is joined by Toulouse hooker William Servat and long-serving Perpignan tight-head Nicolas Mas.

France: D Traille (Biarritz); Y Huget (Bayonne), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), M Mermoz (Perpignan), M Medard (Toulouse); F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne); T Domingo (Clermont Auvergne), W Servat (Toulouse), N Mas (Perpignan), J Pierre (Clermont Auvergne), L Nallet (Racing Metro), T Dusautoir (Toulouse), J Pierre (Clermont Auvergne), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz)

Replacements: G Guirado (Perpignan), L Ducalcon (Castres), J Thion (Biarritz), S Chabal (Racing Metro), D Yachvili (Biarritz), D Skrela (Toulouse), C Poitrenaud (Toulouse)