France coach Fabien Galthie restored Thomas Ramos at flyhalf and named seven forwards on the bench for the Six Nations game against Italy in Rome on Sunday after Matthieu Jalibert was ruled out with illness and with Romain Ntamack still suspended.
Damian Penaud, who needs one try to equal Serge Blanco's national record of 38 but had a torrid handling day against England in the 26-25 defeat at Twickenham two weeks ago, will have to wait for his chance after being left out of the matchday 23. Theo Attissogbe starts instead on the right wing.
Leo Barre returns at fullback after missing the opening Six Nations victory over Wales and loss to England, while lock Thibaud Flament also makes his first start of this year's competition after recovering from a calf injury.
🇫🇷 Les 23 joueurs qui défendront le maillot du #XVdeFrance dimanche à Rome 🐓 #ITAFRA #NeFaisonsXV pic.twitter.com/shthngKDcm
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 21, 2025
Galthie's Springbok-style 7-1 forwards/backs split on the bench leaves only scrumhalf Maxime Lucu covering the back line.
"It's tactical and linked to a very special opponent," Galthie said of the tactic. "We decided to try a strategy to be ready in the key sectors in which Italy are extremely good."
Among the replacements is flanker Anthony Jelonch, who has not played an international since the 2023 World Cup quarterfinal defeat by South Africa after tearing an ACL in his knee.
France and Italy drew 13-13 in Lille last year after the visitors' Paolo Garbisi hit a post with a last-minute penalty. France had won the previous 14 meetings in a row, their only two Six Nations defeats by Italy coming in 2011 and 2013 in Rome.
FRANCE TEAM
15-Leo Barre, 14-Theo Attissogbe, 13-Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12-Yoram Moefana, 11-Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10-Thomas Ramos, 9-Antoine Dupont (captain), 8-Gregory Alldritt, 7-Paul Boudehent, 6-Francois Cros, 5-Mickael Guillard, 4-Thibaud Flament, 3-Uini Atonio, 2-Peato Mauvaka, 1-Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: 16-Julien Marchand, 17-Cyril Baille, 18-Dorian Aldegheri, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Alexandre Roumat, 21-Oscar Jegou, 22-Anthony Jelonch, 23-Maxime Lucu