Six Nations 2015: France drop Bastareaud for Wales game

Mathieu Bastareaud has made 30 appearances for France.

Centre Mathieu Bastareaud has been dropped to the bench for France's Six Nations game against Wales in Paris on Saturday.

Coach Philippe Saint-Andre makes five changes, three of them enforced.

Remy Lamerat takes over from Bastareaud. Brice Dulin comes in for omitted Scott Spedding at full-back.

Romain Taofifenua takes over from banned lock Pascal Pape with Sofiane Guitone comes in on the wing and Morgan Parra at scrum-half.

Pape is out of the rest of the Six Nations after kneeing Ireland's Jamie Heaslip in the back during France's 18-11 defeat in Dublin.

Scrum-half Rory Kockott is injured, paving the way for Parra's recall to the starting line-up.

Like Wales, France have lost once and Saturday's winners will retain hopes of winning the title.

France beat Scotland 15-8 in their tournament opener while Wales were defeated by England and won in Scotland.

FRANCE TEAM

Brice Dulin; (Racing Metro); Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Remi Lamerat (Castres), Wesley Fofana (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Sofiane Guitoune (Bordeaux Begles); Camille Lopez (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Morgan Parra (ASM Clermont Auvergne); Eddy Ben Arous (Racing Metro), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Rabbah Slimani (Stade Francais), Romain Taofifenua (Toulon), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), Bernard Le Roux (Racing Metro), Damien Chouly (ASM Clermont Auvergne).

Replacements: Benjamin Kayser (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Vincent Debaty (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Jocelino Suta (Toulon), Loann Goujon (La Rochelle), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Toulon), Remi Tales (Castres), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon).