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Bastareaud recalled to French midfield

Mathieu Bastareaud will be back in action for France at Murrayfield © Getty Images

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Mathieu Bastareaud will return to the Test arena when France face Scotland in their Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on Sunday.

The Stade Francais centre has been handed the No. 13 jersey for the first time since causing a political furore by fabricating an assault story while on tour in New Zealand in 2009. He is partnered in midfield by Yannick Jauzion, while Francois Trinh-Duc and Morgan Parra are named at halfback.

Toulouse veteran Clement Poitrenaud is installed at fullback, with Benjamin Fall winning his second cap on the wing. Clermont Auvergne skipper Aurelien Rougerie returns on the opposite wing for his first cap since March 2008.

In the injury absence of Sebastien Chabal and Romain Millo-Chluski, Pascal Pape is called in to partner Lionel Nallet in the second-row. Imanol Harinordoquy is named at No. 8 as skipper, Thierry Dusautoir and Montpellier's Fulgence Ouedraogo complete the back-row. Nicolas Mas and Thomas Domingo have edged the prop battle and start either side of Toulouse's in-form William Servat.

Scotland coach Andy Robinson has made six changes to his side for Sunday's Six Nations opener against France.

Robinson has recalled record cap holder and points scorer Chris Paterson at fullback for his 99th appearance, and has also drafted in Glasgow centres Max Evans and Graeme Morrison, Gloucester prop Alasdair Dickinson and Glasgow flankers Kelly Brown and John Barclay.

Two of the changes were injury-enforced, with fullback Rory Lamont and flanker Alasdair Strokosch both ruled out on Monday due to ankle problems.

Despite impressing during the autumn internationals, Worcester centre Alex Grove was relegated to the bench, with the fit-again Max Evans preferred. It was a similar story with Edinburgh prop Allan Jacobsen, who lost out to Dickinson.

Barclay reclaimed the number seven jersey from Alan MacDonald, who made his debut in the defeat to Argentina last time out and is among the substitutes. Phil Godman retained the fly-half jersey, with Robinson surprisingly electing not to include either Dan Parks nor Ruaridh Jackson on the bench. Uncapped 20-year-old Glasgow lock Richie Gray is among the replacements, however.

"There has been improved competition for places since the autumn Tests and selection has been based both on achievements within the autumn matches and on current form," said Robinson. "France have a fantastic squad. The fact they defeated New Zealand in Dunedin last June illustrates that they can win and win well away from home.

"We are excited about the start of the championship but we know that we have not won our first game in the competition since 2006, so all our focus is on making a winning start against France on Sunday."

Scotland team for Six Nations match against France at Murrayfield on Sunday, February 7 (kick-off 3pm):
C Paterson (Edinburgh); T Evans (Glasgow), M Evans (Glasgow), G Morrison (Glasgow), S Lamont (Scarlets); P Godman (Edinburgh), C Cusiter (Glasgow); A Dickinson (Gloucester), R Ford (Edinburgh), M Low (Glasgow), N Hines (Leinster), A Kellock (Glasgow), K Brown (Glasgow), J Barclay (Glasgow), J Beattie (Glasgow).
Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Gray (Glasgow), A MacDonald (Edinburgh), R Lawson (Gloucester), A Grove (Worcester), H Southwell (Stade Francais).

France:
C Poitrenaud; B Fall, M Bastareaud, Y Jauzion, A Rougerie; F Trinh-Duc, M Parra; T Domingo, W Servat, N Mas, L Nallet, P Pape, T Dusautoir (capt), F Ouedraogo, I Harinordoquy
Replacements: D Szarzewski, L Ducalcon, J Pierre, J Bonnaire, F Michalak, D Marty, V Clerc

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