France have made six changes to their side for Saturday's second test against world champions Australia. Hooker Raphael Ibanez returns to the starting side for the Six Nations champions after playing as a replacement for Olivier Azam in last week's 29-17 loss in the first test in Melbourne.
Ibanez takes over the captaincy from lock Fabien Pelous and will lead France for the 26th time after winning his 55th cap in one of four changes to France's forward pack. Triple grand slam-winning flanker Olivier Magne has been replaced by Sebastien Chabal and Olivier Brouzet has taken over from Christophe Porcu at lock. Prop Arnaud Martinez has also been dumped, replaced by Jean-Jacques Crenca.
Pepito Elhorga moves from fullback to the No.11 shirt for injured winger Nicolas Jeanjean while Nicolas Brusque from French championship winners Biarritz comes into the side as fullback. Gerald Merceron takes over from Francois Gelez at flyhalf after Stephen Larkham scored a classy try and was a damaging player for the Wallabies last week.
France were shock losers to Argentina 28-27 in Buenos Aires on June 15, making eight changes for last week's first test. The team showed signs of fatigue in the first match of the two-test series against the Wallabies following a long European season and a stopover in Argentina.
France: Nicolas Brusque, Aurelien Rougerie, Tony Marsh, Damien Traille, Pepito Elhorga, Gerald Merceron, Federic Michalak, Imanol Harinordoquy, Sebastien Chabal, Serge Betsen, Olivier Brouzet, Fabien Pelous, Sylvain Marconnet, Raphael Ibanez (captain), Jean Jacques Crenca
Filed by Sinéad Gleeson
