Jules Plisson has been restored at five-eighth as one of three backline changes by French coach Guy Noves for Saturday's third and final Test against South Africa at Ellis Park.
France are seeking a consolation win having been well beaten in the first two Tests, and Noves has made a further six changes in a revamped bench.
Plisson started the first game in Pretoria and has been preferred in the No.10 jersey to Francois Trinh Duc, who is named among the replacements.
The other two changes to the starting XV are also in the backline, as Brice Dulin comes in for South African-born Scott Spedding at fullback and Nans Ducuing gets a first Test start ahead of Yoann Huget, who suffered a cut last weekend to his mouth.
In changes on the bench, prop Xavier Chiocci comes in for Eddy Ben Arous, lock Paul Jedrasiak is preferred to Julien le Devedec, flanker Loann Goujon is in for Bernard le Roux, halfback Maxime Machenaud takes over from Antoine Dupont, Trinh-Duc features instead of Jean-Marc Doussain and Vincent Rattez takes the place of Ducuing.
South Africa won the first test 37-14 and followed that with a 37-15 victory last weekend in Durban. They have never beaten France at Ellis Park, though, losing all four previous Tests.
FRANCE:
Brice Dulin, Nans Ducuing, Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Virimi Vakatawa, Jules Plisson, Baptiste Serin, Louis Picamoles, Kevin Gourdon, Yacouba Camara, Romain Taofifenua, Yoann Maestri, Rabah Slimani, Guilhem Guirado (capt), Jefferson Poirot.
Res: Clement Maynadier, Xavier Chiocci, Uini Atonio, Paul Jedrasiak, Loann Goujon, Maxime Machenaud, Francois Trinh Duc, Vincent Rattez.
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