France make eight changes for England

France have dropped flyhalf Frederic Michalak to the bench as one of eight changes to their team to face England at Twickenham on Saturday.

Coach Philippe Saint-Andre has taken drastic action after losses away to Italy and at home to Wales – the first time since 1982 that France has started the tournament so badly.

Saint-Andre has also left out scrumhalf Maxime Machenaud and reinstated No. 9 Morgan Parra and flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc – a more experienced halves pairing that led France to the Grand Slam in 2010.

Hooker Dimitri Szarzewski makes way for Benjamin Kayser and winger Vincent Clerc returns from injury to take his place on the right wing, with Wesley Fofana returning to center alongside Mathieu Bastareaud to give France a compact look in midfield.

France

15 Yoann Huget , 14 Vincent Clerc , 13 Mathieu Bastareaud , 12 Wesley Fofana , 11 Benjamin Fall , 10 Francois Trinh-Duc , 9 Morgan Parra , 1 Thomas Domingo , 2 Benjamin Kayser , 3 Nicolas Mas , 4 Christophe Samson , 5 Yoann Maestri , 6 Yannick Nyanga , 7 Thierry Dusautoir , 8 Louis Picamoles

Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewki , 17 Vincent Debaty , 18 Luc Ducalcon , 19 Jocelino Suta , 20 Antonie Claassen , 21 Maxime Machenaud , 22 Frederic Michalak , 23 Florian Fritz