France retain Louis Picamoles and Noa Nakataici for Romania clash
Last Updated: 22/09/15 8:37pm
Louis Picamoles and Noa Nakataici are the only two players to retain starting places for France's Pool D clash with Romania on Wednesday.
Philippe Saint-Andre has made 13 changes to the side that ran out 32-10 winners over Italy at Twickenham as they endure a four-day turnaround between their first two games.
Picamoles was a stand-out performer for the French in London, but the prospect of two physically gruelling games will take its toll when he and his team-mates head to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Hooker Dimitri Szarzewski skippers the side for the second time after leading France in their 19-14 defeat to England at Twickenham last month in the World Cup warm-ups.
Freddie Michalak is named on the bench, and should he come on, will be looking to surpass Thierry Lacroix as France's leading Rugby World Cup points scorer. With 122 points so far, Michalak only needs three points to surge past Lacroix.
It will be France's youngest ever side on average since their 87-10 victory over Namibia in 2007, with an average age of just under 28 years.
France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Sofiane Guitoune, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Remi Tales, 9 Morgan Parra, 1 Vincent Debaty, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski (c), 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Bernard Le Roux, 5 Alexandre Flanquart, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 8 Louis Picamoles.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Eddy Ben Arous, 18 Nicolas Mas, 19 Yoann Maestri, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Frederic Michalak, 23 Mathieu Bastareaud.