France make six changes for Ireland's Six Nations visit

France coach Guy Noves has made six changes for Saturday's Six Nations game against Ireland in Paris.

Noves has amended his side after seeing them struggle to overcome Italy 23-21 in their opening match last weekend.

He named four newcomers in his starting XV against the Italians and France only sneaked the win thanks to fly-half Jules Plisson's late long-range penalty.

Defending champions Ireland are likely to pose a greater threat in the scrum at the Stade de France, so Noves has changed his props, drafting in Uini Atonio for Rabah Slimani and Jefferson Poirot for Eddy Ben Arous.

Yacouba Camara comes in to replace the injured Louis Picamoles at No 8, and Alexandre Flanquart takes the place of Paul Jedrasiak at lock.

In the backs, Teddy Thomas replaces Hugo Bonneval,  who is named on the bench, on the right wing, and Maxime Mermoz steps in for Gael Fickou, who has been absent this week for personal reasons.

Sevens specialist Virimi Vakatawa keeps his place on the left wing after making a try-scoring full international debut against Italy.

"In modern rugby, there is no starter or replacements. It's more of a relay. It's not a sanction. Of course the players are evaluated but we also want to see the players in the squad play," Noves said.

"We have to show the whole squad that we trust them.

"Against Italy we did some things well. But in other areas, we were far away from the international level. We must improve in terms of our defensive play, especially with this Irish armada coming.

"We've worked on our defensive organisation to try to counter the Irish. It will be a difficult match, we hope it will be tricky for Ireland too.

"We've prepared for this match by getting it into our heads that we have to show more power."

 France: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Virimi Vakatawa, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Sebastien Bezy; 1 Jefferson Poirot, 2 Guilhem Guirado (capt), 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Alexandre Flanquart, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 7 Yacouba Camara, 8 Damien Chouly.

Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Rabah Slimani, 18 Eddy Ben Arous, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Loann Goujon, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 Jean-Marc Doussain, 23 Hugo Bonneval.