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France recall fit-again Jalibert to face Scotland / Photo: Paul ELLIS - AFP
France recall fit-again Jalibert to face Scotland
France coach Fabien Galthie on Thursday recalled fly-half Matthieu Jalibert to the starting line-up for this weekend's Six Nations clash away to Scotland.
Jalibert is one of a trio of Bordeaux-Begles backs returning to the side following injury problems.
Centres Nicolas Depoortere and Yoram Moefana, who started in France's tournament-opening 36-14 victory over Ireland, come back into the side in the place of Pau pair Emilien Gailleton and Fabien Brau-Boirie, who lined up against Wales and Italy.
Gailleton scored a try in each of those matches, while Brau-Boirie also crossed the whitewash on his France debut in the 54-12 thrashing of Wales.
Jalibert was in sensational form earlier in the tournament, scoring tries against Ireland and Wales.
"He is walking on water with Bordeaux," former France coach Philippe Saint-Andre told AFP earlier this week.
"His link-up play with Antoine Dupont in the early part of the tournament has been excellent."
The 27-year-old pulled out of the Italy clash the day before the game due to a calf problem and France's attack did not shine as much as it had done in the previous two matches.
Jalibert's return means that Thomas Ramos reverts to full-back after filling in at fly-half against Italy.
Theo Attissogbe returns to the right wing with Gael Drean, a try-scorer on his France debut against the Azzurri, dropping out of the matchday 23 altogether.
Charles Ollivon and Mickael Guillard, who started against Ireland and Wales, come back into the second row in place of Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou, who replaced them in the 33-8 victory over Italy.
Meafou was named man of the match against Italy but Guillard also put in his own man-of-the-match display against Ireland.
Anthony Jelonch has overcome a calf problem to maintain his place at No.8 in a back row that has not changed all tournament alongside flankers Oscar Jegou and Francois Cros.
Tighthead prop Dorian Aldegheri retains his place in the front row despite his struggles in the scrum against Italy, but Demba Bamba replaces Georges-Henri Colombe as the alternative on the bench.
France can sew up a second successive Six Nations title if they beat Scotland with a bonus point, or with any victory if Ireland fail to earn a bonus point win over Wales.
Team (15-1):
Thomas Ramos; Theo Attissogbe, Nicolas Depoortere, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont (capt); Anthony Jelonch, Oscar Jegou, Francois Cros; Mickael Guillard, Charles Ollivon; Dorian Aldegheri, Julien Marchand, Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Rodrigue Neti, Demba Bamba, Thibaud Flament, Emmanuel Meafou, Lenni Nouchi, Baptiste Serin, Pierre-Louis Barassi
T.Murray--SMC
