The signal is clear. Fabien Galthié is banking on continuity. To face Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday, the France management have brought back the centre pairing of Yoram Moefana and Nicolas Depoortere.

Both absent for the last two rounds of the tournament, they return to the starting line-up in a back division built to play at pace. Their complementary qualities should allow France to attack the edges and match Scotland’s movement.

Alongside them, Matthieu Jalibert also returns at fly-half to steer the French attack, paired as ever with Antoine Dupont at scrum-half. A duo asked to dictate the tempo of a game that promises to be open.

A bench built to finish strongly

But the real surprise is up front. To add bulk to the pack while keeping its mobility, the management have chosen to line up Charles Ollivon and Mickael Guillard at lock. A repositioning that confirms France’s desire to have versatile players able to bring volume in open play and, above all, in the lineout. Incidentally, it also gives them two high-class combinations, with Toulouse duo Flament and Meafou also in the squad.

On the bench, Fabien Galthié has also gone for power. Prop Demba Bamba benefits in particular from the withdrawal of Georges-Henri Colombe.

The idea is clear: to keep the intensity at a maximum for eighty minutes against a Scotland side renowned for its tempo and its running game.

A full-scale test at Murrayfield

Having taken a knock to the calf in the build-up to the game, number eight Anthony Jelonch has finally been declared fit and will indeed take his place at the heart of the back row. On a bench made up of six forwards and two backs, the management have opted to include centre Pierre-Louis Barassi, after the withdrawal of the injured Brau-Boirie, preferred to Émilien Gailleton.

This trip to Edinburgh is one of the turning points of the tournament. Unbeaten so far and attack-minded from the outset, Galthié’s men know that a win in Scotland could take them a very long way towards the title and the Grand Slam.

The starting XV:

15. Ramos; 14. Attissogbe, 13. Depoortere, 12. Moefana, 11. Bielle-Biarrey; 10. Jalibert, 9. Dupont (capt.); 7. Jegou, 8. Jelonch, 6. Cros; 5. Guillard, 4. Ollivon; 3. Aldegheri, 2. Marchand, 1. Gros.

Finishers:

16. Mauvaka, 17. Neti, 18. Bamba, 19. Flament, 20. Meafou, 21. Nouchi, 22. Serin, 23. Barassi.