 Castaignede was in impressive form against Italy last time out |
France full-back Thomas Castaignede has recovered from flu to take his place in their team to face England on Sunday. "It's nice to be out for a breath of fresh air," he said after resuming training on Friday. "I have lost about two kilogrammes but I'll be ready."
His recovery means France's line-up will show two changes from the side that beat Italy two weeks ago.
Scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili replaces Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, while Sylvain Marconnet comes in for Olivier Milloud.
Yachvili has been out of favour recently with Elissalde starting the autumn internationals against Australia and South Africa as well as the opening three Six Nations games.
Marconnet, meanwhile, will offer a reassuring presence at loose-head prop against England's Julian White. On the bench, hooker Dimitri Szarzewski and centre Ludovic Valbon take over from the injured Sebastien Bruno and David Marty.
Castaignede's recovery means he will win his 49th cap against England, 10 years after his first Five/Six Nations match saw him drop the winning goal in the same fixture.
"I was 20 and it was not a particularly good game," he recalled. "My drop was not a beautiful drop but we won 15-12 and it changed the beginning of my international career."
He added another drop-goal in a 24-17 victory over England in Paris two years later, but despite being a thorn in their side at international level, Castaignede is keen to extend his stay in English domestic rugby.
 |  When I was in England, I discovered a new level of passion for rugby |
"It's 95% certain that I will stay with Saracens," added the 31-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season and hopes to work in the City when he retires. Another of the four Frenchman on duty on Sunday with experience of the English game is Yachvili, the Biarritz scrum-half who spent a year with Gloucester.
Two years ago he scored 19 points as France wrapped up the Grand Slam in Paris, while his six penalties 12 months ago gave France an unexpected 18-17 win at Twickenham.
"The English have the same animosity towards us as we have towards them but they don't speak about it," he said.
"They are sometimes arrogant, but it's because they work like crazy. When I was there, I discovered a new level of passion for rugby.
"The English are totally devoted to it whereas in France, we are more laid back."
Yachvili will form a half-back partnership with Frederic Michalak, who retains his place despite some shaky performances so far in the Six Nations.
Centre Florian Fritz retains his place in the side despite concerns over a bruised left knee.
France: Castaignede; Rougerie, Fritz, Traille, Dominici; Michalak, Yachvili; Marconnet, Ibanez, De Villiers; Pelous (capt), Thion; Nyanga, Magne, Lievremont.
Replacements: Szarzewski, Milloud, Nallet, Bonnaire, Elissalde, Valbon, Heymans.
MMIX
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