Scandal-hit France forced into changes for second test against Argentina

BUENOS AIRES : France have been forced into two changes to their starting team for the second test against Argentina after the arrest of two players accused of sexual assault and the sending home of experienced back Melvyn Jaminet for a racist comment.

Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou were arrested on Monday after both made debuts in last week’s first test win in Mendoza, where the inexperienced French side surprised with a 28-13 victory.

Their lawyer has said they deny the accusation.

Jegou’s place among the loose trio is taken by Judicael Cancoriet, who had been due to play in the first test but was sick. It will be 28-year-old Cancoriet’s first game for France in six years.

Mickael Guillard, who won his first cap off the bench last weekend, comes in for Auradou in the second row while there are four uncapped players among the replacements.

They are 31-year-old Romain Briatte and fellow loose forward Killian Tixeront plus the halfback pair of 20-year-old scrumhalf Baptiste Jauneau and flyhalf Leo Berdu.

Jaminet, who was among the replacements last week, was sent home from the tour and suspended on Sunday after a video on social media showed him making a racist comment.

Team: 15-Leo Barre, 14-Theo Attissogbe, 13-Emile Gailleton, 12-Antoine Frisch, 11-Lester Etien, 10-Antoine Hastoy, 9-Baptiste Serin, 8-Judicael Cancoriet, 7-Jordan Joseph, 6-Lenni Nouchi, 5-Baptiste Pesenti, 4-Hugo Auradou, 3-George-Henri Colombe, 2-Gaetan Barlot, 1-Jean-Baptiste Gros

Replacements: 16-Teddy Baubigny, 17-Sebastien Taofifenua, 18-Demba Bamba, 19-Posolo Tuilagi, 20-Romain Briatte, 21-Killian Tixeront, 22-Baptiste Jauneau, 23-Leo Berdeu.