France change second-row pairing for Italy match

Grand-Slam-chasing France have changed their second-row partnership for the Six Nations match against Italy in Lille.

Toulouse locks Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou replace Charles Ollivon and Mickael Guillard in the only changes to France’s XV from their 54-12 win over Wales.

Flament and Meafou featured off the bench at the Principality Stadium, but Ollivon and Guillard are named as replacements for Sunday’s fixture (15:10 GMT kick-off).

Flament had missed France’s opening victory against Ireland because it clashed with his wife’s fertility treatment.

Fabien Brau-Boirie, 20, who made his France debut last week, is set to retain his place in the centres.

Meanwhile, France-born Ange Capuozzo is set to return for Italy at full-back having missed the first two matches of this year’s tournament with a fractured finger.

He is set to be the only change for Gonzalo Quesada’s side, who beat Scotland 18-15 in their opening fixture before a 20-13 loss to Ireland.

France: Ramos; Attissogbe, Gailleton, Brau-Boirie, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Dupont (capt); Gros, Marchand, Aldegheri, Flament, Meafou, Cros, Jegou, Jelonch.

Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Colombe, Ollivon, Guillard, Nouchi, Serin, Barassi.

Italy: Fischetti; Lynagh, Menoncello, Marin; Ioane; P Garbisi, Fusco; Fischetti, Nicotera, Ferrari, N Cannone, Zambonin, Lamaro (capt), Zuliani, L Cannone.

Replacements: Dimcheff, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Ruzza, Favretto, Odiase, Garbisi, Odogwu.

Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)

Assistant Referees: Angus Gardner (Aus), Jordan Way (Aus)

Television match official: Ian Tempest (Eng)