Scrum half Morgan Parra and fullback Brice Dulin have been recalled to the France team announced by coach Philippe Saint-Andre on Wednesday for Saturday’s Six Nations encounter with Wales at the Stade de France.
The 26-year-old Parra, capped 58 times, and 24-year-old Dulin, capped 18 times, have not started an international since the tour to Australia in June last year.
After impressing as a replacement in the opening win against Scotland and the defeat to Ireland that followed, Parra comes in for the injured Rory Kockott.
He was preferred to Sebastien Tillous-Borde, who started the November Tests but missed the beginning of the Six Nations campaign with a knee problem.
“He is an experienced player who knows all about the top level. That can only benefit the team,” said Saint-Andre.
The fit-again Dulin also returns at the expense of Scott Spedding, who has started France’s last five matches but was poor in the 18-11 defeat in Dublin.
There are five changes in total from the Ireland game, including Remi Lamerat of Castres replacing Mathieu Bastareaud at centre for the first start of his career at international level.
Injured wing Teddy Thomas makes way for twice-capped Sofiane Guitoune and, as expected, Romain Taofifenua comes in for Pascal Pape, who is serving a 10-week ban for a knee in the back of Jamie Heaslip which left the Ireland player with three fractured vertebrae.
France have not beaten Wales since Saint-Andre became coach three years ago.
Team (15-1)
Brice Dulin; Yoann Huget, Remi Lamerat, Wesley Fofana, Sofiane Guitoune; Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra; Damien Chouly, Bernard Le Roux, Thierry Dusautoir (cap); Yoann Maestri, Romain Taofifenua; Rabah Slimani, Guilhem Guirado, Eddy Ben Arous
Replacements:
Benjamin Kayser, Vincent Debaty, Uini Atonio, Jocelino Suta, Loann Goujon, Sebastian Tillous-Borde, Remi Tales, Mathieu Bastareaud