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New France players rewarded in unchanged side to face Six Nations title-chaser England

France team line up before the Six Nations rugby union international match between Wales and France at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
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France team line up before the Six Nations rugby union international match between Wales and France at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

France's head coach Fabien Galthie before the Six Nations rugby union international match between Wales and France at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
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France's head coach Fabien Galthie before the Six Nations rugby union international match between Wales and France at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

France's Louis Bielle-Biarrey looks to power through during the Six Nations rugby union international match between Wales and France at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
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France's Louis Bielle-Biarrey looks to power through during the Six Nations rugby union international match between Wales and France at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

France's Paul Boudehent, right, and France's Alexandre Roumat wave to fans after the Six Nations rugby union international match between Wales and France at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
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France's Paul Boudehent, right, and France's Alexandre Roumat wave to fans after the Six Nations rugby union international match between Wales and France at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

England's head coach Steve Borthwick watches on players warming up for the Six Nations rugby union international match between England and Ireland, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, March 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
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England's head coach Steve Borthwick watches on players warming up for the Six Nations rugby union international match between England and Ireland, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, March 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

England's George Furbank scores a try during the Six Nations rugby union international match between England and Ireland, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, March 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
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England's George Furbank scores a try during the Six Nations rugby union international match between England and Ireland, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, March 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

PARIS (AP) -- France coach Fabien Galthie has rewarded his young players for beating Wales by naming an unchanged lineup to face England in the Six Nations on Saturday.

Galthie even kept the same bench for the game in Lyon after his new-look France side rallied to a 45-24 record score in Cardiff last Sunday after making eight changes.

"Now this team is faced with a big challenge, beating England six days later," Galthie said. "They will have to stand up to it, be better than in Cardiff."

After upsetting Ireland 23-22 last Sunday, England had to make one change. Wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso revealed concussion symptoms on Monday after his first test start.

Elliot Daly replaced him as expected. Daly was replaced in the reserves by Manu Tuilagi, who has recovered from a groin sprain in December to make the test team for the first time since the Rugby World Cup bronze final in Paris in October.

Back-rower Ethan Roots also has come in for Chandler Cunningham-Smith, who injured a calf against Ireland.

Beating Ireland lifted England back into the title race. England will win the Six Nations if Ireland loses without a bonus point, and England beats France with a bonus point. France has a mathematical chance at the title.

"After such a hard-fought win against Ireland last week, we realize how important it is to back that performance up with a similar display in Lyon on Saturday," England coach Steve Borthwick said.

Scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec is again preferred by France to Maxime Lucu, while center Nicolas Depoortere, fullback Leo Barre and imposing lock Emmanuel Meafou also keep their slots following convincing test debuts against Wales.

"If you want to talk about energy, they brought lots and lots of energy," Galthie said. "

Le Garrec bossed the game behind the rucks against Wales and added a try for good measure.

Prop Georges-Henri Colombe made a try-scoring debut off the bench in Cardiff and is again among Galthie's "finishers," as he likes to call impact players in the reserves.

Prolific goalkicker Thomas Ramos resumes in a makeshift flyhalf role to allow Barre to continue at fullback and counter England's high ball.

Switching Ramos happened only because of a tournament-ending knee injury to first-choice flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert in the 13-13 draw against Italy, but so far it has paid off.

"Thomas is very influential at organizing play, and is also (influential) on other players," Galthie said. "In terms of managing the high points and the low points, he's very good."

Louis Bielle-Biarrey is on the left wing, while veteran Gael Fickou, who has started scoring tries again, partners Depoortere in midfield.

No. 8 Gregory Alldritt captains the side at Groupama Stadium, where he will be joined in the back row by experienced flankers Charles Ollivon and Francois Cros.

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Lineups:

France: Leo Barre, Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Nicolas Depoortere, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Thomas Ramos, Nolann Le Garrec; Gregory Alldritt (captain), Charles Ollivon, Francois Cros, Emmanuel Meafou, Thibaud Flament, Uini Atonio, Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille. Reserves: Peato Mauvaka, Sebastien Taofifenua, Georges-Henri Colombe, Romain Taofifenua, Alexandre Roumat, Paul Boudehent, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana.

England: George Furbank, Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Elliot Daly, George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Ollie Chessum, George Martin, Maro Itoje, Dan Cole, Jamie George (captain), Ellis Genge. Reserves: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Ethan Roots, Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Manu Tuilagi.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby


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