Romain Ntamack will partner scrumhalf Antoine Dupont for France in their World Cup opener against Argentina in Tokyo on Saturday.
The 20-year-old, who made his Test debut in this year’s Six Nations, has been preferred to the more experienced Camille Lopez, who has been named on the bench for the crucial Pool C clash.
The impressive 22-year-old Dupont will pair Ntamack in the halfbacks, making for a combined 25 caps of experience between them.
Elsewhere, regular wing Virimi Vakatawa starts in the midfield alongside Gael Fickou as Wesley Fofana has been ruled out through injury.
In the pack, Arthur Iturria is named in the second row alongside Clermont teammate Sébastien Vahaamahina.
France – 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Yoann Huget, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Gregory Aldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 4 Arthur Iturria, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhelm Guirado (c), 1 Jefferson Poirot.
Subs: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Bernard le Roux, 20 Louis Picamoles, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 Camille Lopez, 23 Thomas Ramos.
Argentina, meanwhile, have opted for a more experienced lineup with veteran playmaker Nicolas Sanchez set to win his 78th cap in his third World Cup, having also played in 2011 and 2015.
The Pumas will also have the experience of Benjamin Urdapilleta to call on in the second half as the 33-year-old has been named on the bench.
Argentina – 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Matias Moroni, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (c), 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.
Subs: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23 Santiago Carreas.
Photo: EPA/Christophe Petit Tesson
