France v Samoa: Guy Noves makes one change as Maxime Machenaud replaces Baptiste Serin
Last Updated: 12/11/16 5:17pm
France head coach Guy Noves has backed continuity as his team bid to extend their winning streak over Samoa to four on Saturday.
With the exception of Baptiste Serin, who misses out to Maxime Machenaud at scrum-half, Noves has plumped for the heart of the France team that beat Argentina 27-0 in the second Test of their summer tour to South America.
Seven of the starting forwards from that victory in Tucuman will play at Toulouse's Muncipal Stadium and the side will continue to be led by hooker Guilhem Guirado.
"We're trying to work in a continuous manner," Noves said, with games against Australia and New Zealand to follow.
"Those players (present in Argentina) made efforts, it's normal to reward them, to show them this confidence they showed us is a two-way thing.
"There's a form of cohesion which has been found and we want to see if they're capable of repeating that type of performance."
Samoa coach Alama Ieremia, a former All Blacks centre, is citing this match as the start of a rebuilding phase for his side after a disappointing World Cup.
Last year Samoa beat the United States of America but then lost to South Africa, Japan and Scotland.
"We are trying to rebuild and move forward. In the November Test matches we have an opportunity to play tier 1 countries like France," said Ieremia.
"If we look back to some of the games we played last year for example against the All Blacks and against Scotland during the World Cup, I think we showed that there were some parts of those games that we need to embrace and also make sure that we continue to play that way."
"We need to have a look at playing winning rugby for Samoa, ensuring that we don't loose our Samoan identity in terms of the way we play.
David Lemi captains Samoa with Paul Perez and Paul Williams combining to form the back three.
Kahn Fotuali'I and Patrick Faapale start in the half-backs as fly-half Tusi Pisi has been ruled out due to a groin injury.
Prop Census Johnston and winger Paul Perez will be playing on "home" soil in Toulouse while Chris Vui will make his debut in the second-row.
Ieremia acknowledged the threat that France pose and the added atmopshere that will be presence at the Test match in Toulouse.
"They have got a very solid, aggressive tight five, very exciting and speedy oustide backs. We have some understanding of some players," he said in reference to five of the Samoa team who play club rugby in France.
"It is the home town of Noves, he has a track record here and the emotion that will be around the Test match will be special here in Toulouse.
"But we want to win. Our performance and the way we play against France is very important. I think that the exciting thing about these two teams is we are trying to rebuild and France are trying to rebuild."
France: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Remi Lamerat, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Virimi Vakatawa, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Maxime Machenaud 1 Jefferson Poirot, 2 Guilhem Guirado (c), 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Julien Le Devedec, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Kevin Gourdon, 7 Loann Goujon, 8 Louis Picamoles
Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 20 Charles Ollivon, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Jean-Marc Doussain, 23 Gael Fickou
Samoa: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Paul Perez, 13 George Pisi, 12 Reynold Lee-Lo, 11 David Lemi (c), 10 Patrick Fa'apale, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i 1 Sakaria Taulafo, 2 Manu Leaiataua, 3 Census Johnston, 4 Chris Vui, 5 Teofilo Paulo, 6 Alafoti Fa'oosiliva, 7 Genesis Mamea-Lemalu, 8 Jack Lam
Replacements: 16 Elia Elia, 17 Logovi'i Mulipola, 18 Anthony Perenise, 19 Jeff Lepa, 20 Greg Foe, 21 Peleifofoga Cowley, 22 Alapati Leuila, 23 Ken Pisi