France make two changes for Italy clash

France head coach Fabien Galthie has made two changes to the starting line up for the third round of the Six Nations game against Italy to be played on Sunday.

With Grégory Alldritt ruled out of the encounter with a leg injury, François Cros shifts from openside flank to number eight with Paul Boudehent starting at number six.

The second change sees Posolo Tuilagi making his first international start replacing Paul Gabrillagues in the second row.

Toulon back-row Esteban Abadie is in line to make his Test debut for France when he comes of the bench.

Meanwhile, Italy has made six changes to the side with Ross Vintcent and Riccardo Favretto making their first starts while Giosue Zilocchi and Giacomo Nicotera coming at the front row. The final two changes sees Martin Page-Relo coming in at scrum half with Federico Mori coming in to the midfield.

France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gaël Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 François Cros, 7 Charles Ollivon (c), 6 Paul Boudehent, 5 Posolo Tuilagi, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille

Reserves: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Sebastien Taofifenua, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Alexandre Roumat, 21 Esteban Abadie, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Yoram Moefana

Italy: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Tommaso Menoncello, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Federico Mori, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Martin Page-Relo, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Riccardo Favretto, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Giosuè Zilocchi, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti

Reserves: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Andrea Zambonin, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Stephen Varney, 23 Leonardo Marin