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France name Wesley Fofana and Mathieu Bastareaud for England clash

Thursday 20 August 2015 17:13, UK

Mathieu Bastareaud (C) and France's centre Wesley Fofana (R) react after the Six Nations match between France and Wales on February 28, 2015
Image: Mathieu Bastareaud (left) and Wesley Fofana (right) will form France's midfield against England

France have selected first-choice centre pairing Wesley Fofana and Mathieu Bastareaud for Saturday's World Cup warm-up match against England in Paris.

Fofana and Bastareaud, who will line up opposite Luther Burrell and Jonathan Joseph, feature outside the Toulon half-back pairing of Seb Tillous-Borde and Freddie Michalak as coach Philippe Saint-Andre makes 12 changes to the team beaten 19-14 by England last weekend.

Louis Picamoles, France's most destructive player at Twickenham, continues at No 8, while full-back Scott Spedding and second-row Yoann Maestri keep their places in the side.

Veteran lock Pascal Pape captains the side with Thierry Dusautoir still unavailable because of injury.

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Highlights of last Saturday's clash between England and France from Twickenham

France: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 1 Eddy Ben Arous, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 3 Rabah Slimani, 4 Pascal Pape, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Damien Chouly, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 8 Louis Picamoles.

Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Uini Atonio, 19 Alexandre Flanquart, 20 Yannick Nyanga, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Remi Tales, 23 Gael Fickou. 

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