PARIS – France manager Guy Noves named Fijian-born wingers Noa Nakaitaci and Virimi Vakatawa yesterday as Les Bleus brace for a defensive challenge against Australia at the Stade de France tomorrow.
Vakatawa, who scored a hat-trick of tries in their 52-8 victory over Samoa, and his Clermont teammate Nakaitaci will for the first time play together in the France jersey alongside centres Remi Lamerat and Wesley Fofana.
Nakaitaci has scored seven tries in eight appearances for leaders Clermont in the French Top 14 this season and the club will have five starters tomorrow.
The game Clermont has been playing appeals to us.”
Noves made five changes to the team who thrashed Samoa, with Nakaitaci coming in for Huget and Jean-Marc Doussain taking over at flyhalf after Francois Trinh-Duc was ruled out of the series with a broken forearm.
Flanker Charles Ollivon replaces Loann Goujon who is out injured while lock Sebastien Vahamahina takes Julien Le Devedec’s place and prop Cyril Baille gets his first start in place of the injured Jefferson Poirot.
They will then take on Ireland and England, while France will face New Zealand.
Team: Scott Spedding, Noa Nakaitaci, Remi Lamerat, Wesley Fofana, Virimi Vakatawa, Jean-Marc Doussain, Maxime Machenaud, Louis Picamoles, Kevin Gourdon, Charles Ollivon, Yoann Maestri, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Uini Atonio, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Cyril Baille. Reserves: Camille Chat, Xavier Chiocci, Rabah Slimani, Julien Le Devedec, Damien Chouly, Baptiste Serin, Camille Lopez, Gael Fickou.
