Marcoussis (France) (AFP) - France coach Fabien Galthie has opted for a sturdier second row against England in their final Six Nations match on Saturday, bringing in Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament.

The defending champions are bidding this weekend to win back-to-back Six Nations titles for the first time since 2007.

Just as he did against Italy and their powerful pack, Galthie has opted for the hulking Toulouse pair in the engine room instead of Charles Ollivon and Mickael Guillard, who have started three of France’s four matches in the tournament.

It is the ninth time that Galthie has picked Flament and Meafou together in the second row, making them his second-most used lock pairing since he took over the French reins in 2020, behind the South African-born duo Bernard Le Roux and Paul Willemse.

“These are changes that we had planned. We make changes when we win and when we lose,” Galthie said on Thursday before the game nicknamed ‘Le Crunch’.

“I think that Flament and Meafou deserve to start this match. We need Mickael Guillard to be amongst the finishers.”

The shuffling of the pack was partly forced by flanker Oscar Jegou, who has been one of France’s best players in the tournament, copping a four-match suspension for eye-gouging Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman, and No.8 Anthony Jelonch hurting his hamstring in training during the week.

Ollivon moves from lock to No.8, with Temo Matiu – the son of New Zealand-born former France international Legi Matiu – taking Jegou’s place at openside to earn his first cap.

“We’ve picked Temo Matiu because of his mix of speed, power and skill, which will compliment Francois (Cros) and Charles” in the back row, said Galthie.

“Maybe I waited a bit long to pick Temo Matiu… this will be a special moment for his family.”

Lock Guillard, who was man-of-the-match against Ireland in the tournament opener, drops to the bench with Ollivon favoured at No.8 – a role both have previously undertaken for France under Galthie.

“Charles is a player with a lot of experience who has been playing with us for seven years as a seven, a little bit as a four, and also as a No.8,” said Galthie.

“He’s a quick and skillful player who is also important in the line-out.

“We’ve plumped for his experience. He’s a very eclectic player capable of playing in several different systems.”

- ‘Back to his best’ -

In the backline, Toulouse centre Pierre-Louis Barassi got the nod to partner Yoram Moefana in midfield over Pau’s Emilien Gailleton to replace Bordeaux-Begles’s Nicolas Depoortere, who dislocated his shoulder against Scotland last week.

Gailleton had partnered his club team-mate Fabien Brau-Boirie in victories against Wales and Italy, scoring a try in each.

He will start on the bench, with Kalvin Gourgues, who was part of the matchday 23 in the victory over Ireland, missing out altogether.

“There was a decision to make with Emilien, and Kalvin who also played at the start of the tournament,” said Galthie.

“But Yoram and Pierre-Louis played in the Six Nations last season until Pierre-Louis suffered a concussion against Ireland (in the fourth match).

“We feel that (Barassi) is getting back to his best, and Emilien will be the finisher.”

Unless Scotland draw away to Ireland, France must win, and potentially with a bonus point, to retain the Six Nations crown.

Scotland blew the title-race open last week with a stunning 50-40 dismantling of previously-unbeaten France at Murrayfield.

But France managed to maintain a significant points difference advantage by scoring four tries in the final quarter of an hour to ensure they took home a try bonus point.

Team (15-1)

Thomas Ramos; Theo Attissogbe, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont (capt); Charles Ollivon, Temo Matiu, Francois Cros; Emmanuel Meafou, Thibaud Flament; Dorian Aldegheri, Julien Marchand, Jean-Baptiste Gros

Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Rodrigue Neti, Demba Bamba, Hugo Auradou, Mickael Guillard, Joshua Brennan, Baptiste Serin, Emilien Gailleton

Coach: Fabien Galthie (FRA)