Six Nations 2013: Mathieu Bastareaud back for France

France have recalled giant centre Mathieu Bastareaud and handed first starts to forwards Antoine Claassen and Sebastien Vahaamahina for Saturday's Six Nations game against Scotland.

Much-criticised fly-half Frederic Michalak retains the 10 shirt for bottom side France.

Claassen, 28, came on as a replacement against both England and Ireland.

Twenty-one-year-old lock Vahaamahina made his debut from the bench in the win against Australia in November.

Toulon centre Bastareaud, 24, came on as a replacement in France's first game of the 2013 Six Nations - the 23-18 loss to Italy - to win his first cap for three years.

The 17-and-a-half stone centre started the next two games - defeats by Wales and England - before once again coming on as a replacement in the 13-13 draw with Ireland last weekend.

France go into the game bottom of the table with one point and desperate to avoid a first Wooden Spoon since 1957.

Victories at home to Italy and Ireland mean Scotland are third and have already guaranteed they will not finish last, as they did in 2012.

France: Huget; Clerc, Bastareaud, Fofana, Medard; Michalak, Parra; Domingo, Kayser, Mas, Vahaamahina, Maestri, Claassen, Dusautoir (capt), Picamoles.

Replacements: Guirado, Debaty, Ducalcon, Samson, Nyanga, Machenaud, Trinh-Duc, Fritz or Fickou.