France unchanged for Six Nations finale v England

France coach Fabien Galthie has named an unchanged team for their final Guinness Six Nations fixture against England in Lyon on Saturday (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player), which means a second run at out-half for Thomas Ramos.

Ramos usually plays fullback but injuries to Matthieu Jalibert and Romain Ntamack have thrust him into the number 10 role, where he acquitted himself fairly well in the 45-24 win over Wales last weekend despite some poor moments on defence.

It also means further run outs for lock Emmanuel Meafou, centre Nicolas Depoortere and full-back Leo Barre, who all debuted in the five-try victory in Cardiff in which France's forward power proved the difference in the final 20 minutes.

Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey are on the wings, with Gael Fickou partnering Depoortere in midfield and Nolann Le Garrec given another run at scrum-half after impressing last week.

Props Cyril Baille and Uini Atonio are either side of hooker Julien Marchand, with Thibaud Flament and Meafou in the second row, and flankers Francois Cros and captain Gregory Alldritt at the back of the scrum with Charles Ollivon.

Galthie has again opted for a 6-2 split between forwards and backs among the replacements to counter the physical threat of England in the final quarter of the game. Scrum-half Maxime Lucu and centre Yoram Moefana are the two backs on the bench.

France still have the slimmest of hopes of lifting the Six Nations trophy this season. They need to beat England with a bonus point and hope Scotland defeat Ireland in Dublin, with the latter taking no points from the game.

Galthie’s side would then still need to make up a 76-point swing on points difference to overhaul the Irish.

Munster centre Antoine Frisch had been called into the