Thursday 19 March 2015 19:34, UK
France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has called up Stade Francais fly-half Jules Plisson for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with England at Twickenham.
Plisson, 23, comes in for injured first-choice No 10 Camille Lopez, who has a knee problem, and will line up alongside scrum-half Sebastien Tillous-Borde in the 16th different half-back pairing Saint-Andre has picked in just over three years at the France helm.
Plisson has made five appearances for France - his first came in the 26-24 win over England last year - and impressed by scoring 10 points as a replacement for Lopez in the 29-0 victory in Italy last weekend.
"We know Jules' qualities, this year he has grown in confidence and maturity," Saint-Andre said. "He was worked a lot on his physique and the particular instructions we gave him. On Sunday everything he did, he did well.
"He's got a broken nose but he is determined to play. He's OK for Saturday."
Lopez bruised his knee against Italy and Saint-Andre, but the France coach said, as far as he was concerned, there appeared no likelihood of him being ruled out for six weeks, and seemed to question his commitment.
"Lopez trained normally on Wednesday morning. He even kicked," Saint-Andre said. "In the afternoon his club Clermont decided that he must rest for four to six weeks. Clermont's medic decided that without seeing him and using only the MRI we sent them.
"We had a chat with Camille then and he was disrupted. I need players who don't doubt."
The only other change sees Vincent Debaty come in for Eddy Ben Arous at prop after the latter suffered an arm injury in Rome.
Remi Tales and Uini Atonio replace Plisson and Debaty on the France bench.
France can still win the Six Nations title but will need to not only beat England by at least eight points but also hope that Ireland lose in Scotland and Wales are beaten in Italy.
Plisson said: "I am convinced that we have something to do in England, we have nothing to lose, they are the favourites.
"When I'm on the field, I want to have fun, to create things. I like to feel that the guys around me take pleasure in making passes. I am aware that I have to bring something new that will make the difference."
France: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 1 Vincent Debaty, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 3 Nicolas Mas, 4 Alexandre Flanquart, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 7 Bernard Le Roux, 8 Loann Goujon.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Rabah Slimani, 18 Uini Atonio, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Remi Tales, 23 Mathieu Bastareaud.
