New faces as France announce team to face Scotland

The astonishing depth of French rugby was underlined today with the announcement of a team to face Scotland showing only three players who figured in the 22-strong World Cup Final squad as recently as 2011.

Rory Kockott

Only Forwards Pascal Pape and Thierry Dusautoir played in that 8-7 defeat by New Zealand while Morgan Parra is on the bench this weekend.

New faces include South Africa-born scrum half Rory Kockott, who has been handed his first start.

Kockott, from Castres, won three caps last November against Fiji, Australia and Argentina. He is deputising for the injured Sebastien Tillous-Bordes.

Team: Scott Spedding, Yoann Huget, Mathieu Bastareaud, Wesley Fofana, Teddy Thomas, Camille Lopez, Rory Kockott, Alexandre Menini, Guilhem Guirado, Rabah Slimani, Pascal Pape, Yoann Maestri, Thierry Dusautoir, Damien Chouly, Bernard Le Roux. Subs: Benjamin Kayser, Uini Atonio, Eddy Ben Arous, Romain Taofifenua, Loann Goujon, Morgan Parra, Remi Tales, Remi Lamerat