Fly-half Lionel Beauxis to make first France appearance for six years
Friday 9 February 2018 12:27, UK
Veteran fly-half Lionel Beauxis is a surprise inclusion in the France starting line-up to face Scotland in the Six Nations on Sunday at Murrayfield.
The 32-year-old Lyon half-back was added to the squad due to the knee ligament injury suffered by teenage fly-half Matthieu Jalibert in last weekend's 15-13 defeat to Ireland.
Coach Jacques Brunel has decided Beauxis will now make his first appearance since a March 2012 date with France.
Anthony Belleau, who played 50 minutes against Ireland after coming off the bench, was expected to replace Jalibert, but Brunel thinks Beauxis' kicking ability will be of use.
The coach said: "We think the weather won't be very good and so his experience and kicking game will help us relieve the team, if the pressure is a bit strong.
"We know his talent, his game management and individual abilities.
"Since the start of the season with Lyon he's played very well. He's full of confidence, calm and offers assurance."
Brunel has made three changes to his starting line-up, all due to injuries, while powerful back row man Louis Picamoles is one of three new faces on the replacements bench.
Marco Tauliegne comes in for Kevin Gourdon, who has an ankle injury, at number eight.
Fit-again Geoffrey Doumayrou starts in midfield instead of Henry Chavancy, who has not taken part in contact training this week due to an eye socket injury.
Scrum-half Baptise Serin is in on the bench in place of Antoine Dupont, whose season is over following a knee ligament injury suffered during a nine-minute cameo against Ireland, while Eddy Ben Arous replaces Dany Priso as substitute loosehead prop.
The new-look France team suffered an agonising loss in their Six Nations opener last week, denied by a late Jonny Sexton drop goal.
They now face a Scotland team who are smarting after a heavy defeat in Wales last Saturday.
France team to face Scotland: 15 Geoffrey Palis, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Remi Lamerat, 12 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 11 Virimi Vakataw, 10 Lionel Beauxis, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 1 Jefferson Poirot, 2 Guilhem Guirado (captain), 3 Rabah Slimani, 4 Arthur Iturria, 5 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 7 Yacouba Camara, 8 Marco Tauleigne
Replacements: 16 Adrien Pelissie, 17 Eddy Ben Arous, 18 Cedate Gomes Sa, 19 Paul Gabrillagues, 20 Louis Picamoles, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Anthony Belleau, 23 Benjamin Fall
