Philippe Saint-Andre, the French coach, has dumped half backs Morgan Parra and Francois Trinh-Duc in the wake of the 17-17 draw with Ireland for Sunday's clash with England in Paris.
The draw ended French hopes of a Grand Slam and Saint-Andre, who took over as head coach after the 2011 World Cup which saw Les Bleus lose in the final to New Zealand, has lost patience with the half backs.
He has drafted in Lionel Beauxis at outside half to give the team a tactical kicking option while Julien Dupuy, the former Leicester scrum half, has been given the opportunity to make the No9 jersey his own after a frustrating period as understudy to Parra who is normally the goal kicker.
Saint-Andre has stuck with the same pack that gave Scotland and Ireland problems in the scrum and that means the powerful back row of Imanol Harinordoquy, Julien Bonnaire and captain Thierry Dusautoir will line up against the inexperienced England forwards led by captain Chris Robshaw.
