Six Nations: Rory Kockott starts for France against Scotland
Wednesday 4 February 2015 12:18, UK
South Africa-born Rory Kockott has been handed his first start for France against Scotland in Saturday's Six Nations clash in Paris.
Castres star Kockott, who won his first three caps last November against Fiji, Australia and Argentina, is deputising for Sebastien Tillous-Bordes, who was ruled out of the clash with an injury.
He will pair up with first-choice fly-half Camille Lopez of Clermont Auvergne. Kockott's half-back partner at Castres, Remi Tales, who was first choice in last season's Six Nations, starts on the bench along with Clermont scrum-half Morgan Parra, who missed the November internationals with a shoulder injury.
France coach Phillipe Saint-Andre said: "It's logical (to pick Kockott) given our organisation in November. "Rory...has been able to work on his combination with Camille Lopez these last two weeks (while Tillous-Borde was injured)."
Scott Spedding was named at full-back despite the return of Brice Dulin, who is back in the squad after nursing an arm injury. Dulin had already missed the November internationals with a stress fracture.
France finished the Six Nations in fourth place last year, and last in 2013.
Stade Francais prop Rabah Slimani comes in at tight-head, with veteran Nicolas Mas not even making the bench.
The 34-year-old Montpellier veteran, who has 76 caps, was also overlooked in favour of Uini Atonio, who starts among the replacements.
"With what Rabah has shown at Stade Francais, with his movement and reactivity, it's normal that he starts," said Saint-Andre.
"Nicolas is an experienced player who's important for France," said Saint-Andre. "With Pascal Pape and Thierry Dusautoir, they're the three who ensure our morale. I had a conversation with him, he understands. He's a real competitor. We know his experience, his force of character, he won't just give up."
Hulking centre Mathieu Bastareaud comes in at outside centre in place of the injured Alexandre Dumoulin, while La Rochelle flanker Loann Goujon could make his debut if he comes off the bench.
Young wing Teddy Thomas - who has four tries in his two appearances for Les Bleus - comes back into the side after being dropped from France's final November Test, a 18-13 defeat to Argentina, for disciplinary reasons.
France: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Teddy Thomas, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Rory Kockott, 1 Alexandre Menini, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 3 Rabah Slimani, 4 Pascal Pape, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 7 Berard Le Roux, 8 Damien Chouly
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Uini Atonio, 18 Eddy Ben Arous, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Loann Goujon, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Remi Tales, 23 Remi Lamerat
