Number eight Vermeulen replaces injured Sale star Chabal

Saturday, 24 February
Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Live on BBC Two, Five Live Sports Extra, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, Sport website

France coach Bernard Laporte has made five changes to his pack for Saturday's visit of Wales in the Six Nations.

Elvis Vermeulen replaces Sale's injured Sebastien Chabal at number eight, while Julien Bonnaire plays at open-side flanker instead of Imanol Harinordoquy.

Jerome Thion comes in for Pascal Pape at lock, while Olivier Milloud and Nicolas Mas replace Sylvain Marconnet and Peter de Villiers in the front row.

The three-quarters are unchanged with Aurelien Rougerie back on the bench.

Interview: Wales coach Gareth Jenkins

Interview: Wales captain Stephen Jones

Chabal, who played in France's opening victories over Italy and Ireland, limped out of Sale's loss to Wasps on Sunday with a leg injury.

But team doctor Thierry Hermerel said the injury was not as bad as feared and he should be fit for their next game if included.

"It's a large and painful bruise but he should be able to resume full training next week," he said.

"We have no worries about his availability for the match against England on 11 March." Chaba's Sale team-mate, hooker Sebastien Bruno is dropped from the bench in favour of Biarritz's Benoit August, while Gregory Lamboley joins Harinordoquy in the replacements.

Meanwhile, France captain Fabien Pelous will miss the rest of the competition with an ankle injury sustained playing for Toulouse against Llanelli Scarlets in December.

There will be several more changes before the match at Twickenham, that is for sure France manager Jo Maso

"He took a test, which revealed the ankle was bruised," said team manager Jo Maso.

"There was an inflammation because Fabien wanted to return too quickly."

Maso also said all 40 players in the French squad would play before the World Cup.

"We have used 24 players and without doubt there will be 29 who will have played after the Wales match," he said.

"All the players not retained for this match, like all those who were not candidates because of various injuries or illnesses, will be in the frame for England, after 15 days of heavy training," added Maso.

"There will be several more changes before the match at Twickenham, that is for sure."

Despite the promise to make changes, Maso said France would look to a spine of experienced players such as captain Raphael Ibanez and winger Christophe Dominici to provide leadership during the campaign.

While France have opened with two wins, Wales have suffered defeats to Ireland and Scotland.