France boosted by return of Penaud for Twickenham trip

Matthieu Jalibert has been recalled to replace the suspended Romain Ntamack, while Damian Penaud is back from injury for France’s Six Nations clash away to England on Saturday.

Ntamack was given a three-week ban for his high hit on Ben Thomas during France’s 43-0 demolition of Wales at home in the tournament opener.

The loss of Ntamack is a blow but head coach Fabien Galthie has been boosted by the return of Penaud on the right wing following an injury.

There was plenty of speculation as to who would play at fly-half when Ntamack’s yellow card was upgraded to red against Wales.

Full-back Thomas Ramos has experience at 10, while there was talk of captain and scrum-half Antoine Dupont taking the role.

However, Galthie instead settled on Bordeaux-Begles’ Jalibert.

Elsewhere, France’s starting line-up remains the same for the trip to Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.

France are many people’s favourites to lift the trophy and will arrive in London full of confidence after putting Warren Gatland’s Wales to the sword.

England v France, known as ‘Le Crunch’, is one of rugby’s greatest rivalries but it has been dominated by the side in blue of late.

France have won the last three meetings, including a 53-10 rout the last time they took on England at Twickenham.

France starting XV

15. Thomas Ramos
14. Damian Penaud
13. Pierre-Louis Barassi
12. Yoram Moefana
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
10. Matthieu Jalibert
9. Antoine Dupont

1. Jean-Baptiste Gros
2. Peato Mauvaka
3. Uini Atonio
4. Alexandre Roumat
5. Emmanuel Meafou
6. Francois Cros
7. Paul Boudehent
8. Gregory Alldritt

Replacements
16. Julien Marchand
17. Cyril Baille
18. Georges-Henri Colombe
19. Hugo Auradou
20. Mickael Guillard
21. Oscar Jegou
22. Nolann Le Garrec
23. Emilien Gailleton