Tighthead prop Mohamed Haouas has been named in the France starting line-up to face Scotland in the Six Nations on Sunday.

Montpellier’s Haouas replaces the suspended Uini Atonio, who was handed a three-week ban for a high tackle on Rob Herring in Round Two.

Haouas’ last match against Scotland

Haouas was infamously red-carded for punching Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie in this fixture back in 2020, ultimately curtailing France’s efforts to win the Six Nations.

The tighthead prop will earn his 16th Test cap and his first of 2023 as he is preferred over Sipili Falatea, who benched the opening two matches. 

Thomas Ramos, Damian Penaud and Ethan Dumortier continue their threatening combination in the backfield.

Jonathan Danty returned to the squad earlier in the week but was not deemed fit enough for this fixture, so the combination of Yoram Moefana and Gael Fickou continues in the centres.

Antoine Dupont captains the side from scrum-half with clubmate Romain Ntamack at fly-half.

Haouas is joined in the front-row by Julien Marchand at hooker and Cyril Baille at loosehead prop. Thibaud Flament and Paul Willemse pack down in the second-row as Anthony Jelonch, Charles Ollivon, and Gregory Alldritt start in an unchanged loose trio from the first two rounds.

France continue with a six-two split on the bench with Gaetan Barlot, Reda Wardi, Sipili Falatea, Romain Taofifénua, Francois Cros and Seckou Macalou providing cover in the pack.

Baptiste Couilloud and Matthieu Jalibert provide backline options.

France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Ethan Dumortier, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Mohamed Haouas, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Romain Taofifénua, 20 Francois Cros, 21 Seckou Macalou, 22 Baptiste Couilloud, 23 Matthieu Jalibert

Date: Sunday, 26 February
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 16:00 local (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (England), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

READ MORE: Scotland: Hamish Watson returns to start crunch Six Nations clash against France

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