Mathieu Bastareaud will captain France in their final Six Nations match against Wales on Saturday, while Rabah Slimani has been dropped to the bench in place of Cedate Gomes Sa.
Bastareaud missed the first two matches of the Championship after serving a ban for a homophobic slur during Toulon's Champions Cup win over Benetton Rugby in January.
However, the powerful centre returned to the team with impressive performances in the wins over Italy and England and will now lead the French in Cardiff in the absence of injured captain Guilhem Guirado.
France head coach Jacques Brunel believes Bastareaud has been integral to his side's improvement in this year's Championship.
"For some time he has a sort of serenity which can influence the team," said Brunel. "He's like a quiet force. We know the weight he can have on the pitch, with or without the ball."
Guirado has been ruled out of the match with a knee injury and will be replaced in the squad by Adrien Pelissie, while Gael Fickou starts on the wing.
Elsewhere, Gomes Sa starts at tighthead prop in place of Slimani, with Benjamin Fall moving to full-back in place of injured Hugo Bonneval.
France could finish as high as second in the Six Nations table with a victory in Cardiff. Wales boss Warren Gatland names his squad on Thursday.
France squad to face Wales
Backs: Benjamin Fall, Gael Fickou, Mathieu Bastareaud (captain), Geoffrey Doumayrou, Remy Grosso, Francois Trinh-Duc, Maxime Machenaud
Forwards: Jefferson Poirot, Adrien Pelissie, Cedate Gomes Sa, Paul Gabrillagues, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Wenceslas Lauret, Yacouba Camara, Marco Tauleigne