Injury-hit France deploy megastar Antoine Dupont at flyhalf for Springbok clash

Injury-hit France deploy megastar Antoine Dupont at flyhalf for Springbok clash

France coach Fabien Galthie has called on playmaker Antoine Dupont to solve his problems at flyhalf for Round 5 of the Nations Championship on Friday.

With a host of Les Bleus' premier No.10s sidelined, Dupont has been picked to start in Paris on Friday night. Romain Ntamack was ruled out after dislocating his shoulder against Fiji, while Matthieu Jalibert, Thomas Ramos and Antoine Hastoy are also unavailable due to injury. Flanker Paul Boudehent was also ruled out.

The experienced Maxime Lucu will feed Dupont, while Yoram Moefana and Kalvin Gourgues continue their centre partnership. The elusive Louis Bielle-Biarrey is on the wing opposite Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang and the dangerous Theo Attissogbe starts at fullback.

In the forwards, Hooker Julien Marchand is in between props Jean-Baptiste Gros and Sipili Falatea. Florian Verhaeghe and Mickael Guillard are in the second-row, while Francois Cros and Cameron Woki are on the flanks. The forgotten Gregory Alldritt finally returns at No.8 after a year's absence from the French squad.

Uncapped Pau playmaker Axel Desperes is on the relatively inexperienced bench that is bolstered by hooker Peato Mauvaka and hardman Charles Ollivon.

France will be looking to build on their 54-17 win over Fiji last week.

France - 15 Theo Attissogbe, 14 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Antoine Dupont, 9 Maxime Lucu (c), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Mickael Guillard, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Sipili Falatea, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.

Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Charles Ollivon, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Esteban Capilla, 22 Axel Desperes, 23 Emilien Gailleton.

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