[ad_1]
| Date: Friday 2 February Venue: Stade Velodrome, Marseille Kick-off: 20:00 GMT |
| Coverage: Listen on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Radio Ulster; live text updates, report, reaction & highlights on BBC Sport website & app. |
Scrum-half Maxime Lucu will start for France in the absence of Antoine Dupont in the Six Nations opener against Ireland in Marseille on Friday.
Dupont, 27, will miss the tournament to play in the World Rugby Sevens Series before the Paris Olympics this summer.
Lucu started two pool games at last year’s World Cup when Dupont was injured.
Coach Fabien Galthie makes five changes to the side that lost the quarter-final to South Africa in October.
Uncapped Racing 92 scrum-half Nolann le Garrec, 21, has been named on the bench.
Ireland beat France in Dublin last year on their way to winning the Grand Slam.
Number eight Gregory Alldritt, who takes over from Dupont as captain, is joined by Francois Cros on the flank after Anthony Jelonch’s knee injury.
Winger Yoram Moefana is selected ahead of 20-year-old Louis Bielle-Biarrey, while Paul Gabrillagues and Paul Willemse are named in the second row.
Line-ups
France: T Ramos; D Penaud, G Fickou, J Danty, Y Moefana; M Jalibert, M Lucu; C Baille, P Mauvaka, U Atonio; P Gabrillagues, P Willemse; F Cros, C Ollivon, G Alldritt (capt).
Replacements: J Marchand, R Wardi, D Aldegheri, R Taofifenua, C Woki, P Boudehent, N Le Garrec, L Bielle-Biarrey.
Ireland: H Keenan; C Nash, R Henshaw, B Aki, J Lowe; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong; J McCarthy, T Beirne; P O’Mahony (capt), J van def Flier, C Doris.
Replacements: R Kelleher, C Healy, F Bealham, J Ryan, R Baird, J Conan, C Murray, C Frawley.
