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France's Serin, Chouly start against England

Marcoussis - Scrumhalf Baptiste Serin and flanker Damien Chouly have been included by France coach Guy Noves in his team for Saturday's Six Nations opener against England.

Noves faces a tough trip to Twickenham after seeing his team play some good rugby in the November internationals but losing against Australia and New Zealand.

Bordeaux's five-times capped Serin, 22, has been favoured for a start over Racing Metro's Maxime Machenaud who featured in France's three November Tests.

"Serin was very effective off the bench in November after a very good tour of Argentina," said Noves. "It seemed wise to see what he could give in a difficult context from the start of the match."

Clermont's 43-times capped Chouly, 31, has not started since last year's Six Nations against England, but was preferred by Noves to Loann Goujon who drops to the bench.

Goujon picked up an injury in the first November Test against Samoa, and was subsequently replaced by Charles Ollivon, who has been ruled out injured for the start of the Six Nations.

"Damien is captain at Montferrand (Clermont), we know his profile, he is a leader," said Noves who made three other changes from November's defeat to New Zealand.

In the absence of injured Wesley Fofana, the second centre's role alongside Remi Lamerat goes to Gal Fickou, third choice in November.

Mathieu Bastareaud does not even make the bench, with Virimi Vakatawa moving from wing to centre in the case of injury, Noves said.

Scott Spedding, injured before the match against New Zealand, returns to his spot at the back and will link up with Fiji-born wingers Noa Nakaitaci and Vakatawa.

Xavier Chiocci gives his prop position to Cyril Baille.

Teams

France

15 Scott Spedding; 14 Maxime Nakaitaci, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Remi Lamerat, 11 Virimi Vakatawa; 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Baptiste Serin; 8 Kevin Gourdon, 7 Louis Picamoles, 6 Damien Chouly; 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Sebastien Vahaamahina; 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Guilhem Guirado (capt), 1 Cyril Baille.

Substitutes: Clement Maynadier, Rabah Slimani, Xavier Chiocci, Arthur Iturria, Loann Goujon, Maxime Machenaud, Jean-Marc Doussain, Yoann Huget

England

15 Mike Brown, 14 Jonny May, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Tom Wood, 6 Maro Itoje, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley (captain), 1 Joe Marler

Substitutes: 16 Jamie George, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Teimana Harrison, 20 James Haskell, 21 Danny Care, 22 Ben Te'o, 23 Jack Nowell

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