The Albany Gazette - France pick uncapped Brau-Boirie in new centre pairing for Wales

The 20-year-old will start in the French midfield alongside his Pau teammate Emilien Gailleton, 22, after Bordeaux-Begles duo Nicolas Depoortere and Yoram Moefana were ruled out through injury.

The rest of the starting XV for Sunday's match is identical to the one that thumped Ireland 36-14 in France's tournament opener last week.

Galthie had hinted at pairing the Pau centres against Wales when he played them together with the rest of the starters in training on Tuesday, as Depoortere and Moefana sat out.

"The fact that they play together regularly, and train together, creates greater understanding, which, in those instinctive moments, whether in attack or defence, adds a special connection," said Galthie, adding that this was "worth taking advantage of".

Brau-Boirie may not have played for France before, but he has been close and represented the under-20s 14 times, including at two World Cups.

It was those performances for the under-20s that convinced Galthie of Brau-Boirie's talent.

He was due to tour with France to New Zealand in July last year but for an ankle injury.

"He regularly establishes himself, every weekend, by his club performances," said Galthie of a player whom attack coach Patrick Arlettaz has compared to former France great Yannick Jauzion, who was short-listed for the world player of the year award in 2007.

"He has that kind of talent... to be understated and very effective, to make others around him play well," Arlettaz said on Tuesday.

As for Gailleton, he "has lots of experience with the national team. He's rarely, or even, never disappointed," said Galthie.

- Flament back on bench -

Galthie has decided to stick with his second row partnership of Charles Ollivon and Mickael Guillard, despite the return of Thibaud Flament, who missed the Ireland match to accompany his wife in her fertility treatment.

Both Ollivon and Guillard began their careers as loose forwards, effectively meaning that France will line up with five back-row forwards against Wales, as they did against Ireland.

"We've been thinking about (Ollivon) as a number four for a long time," said Galthie of the 32-year-old, who has mostly played as a flanker in his career.

"He deserves to play again, alongside Mickael Guillard. They both played well.

"It's true that Thibaud has always played well for us. He's back with the group after two weeks for personal reasons."

Flament takes the place of Hugo Auradou as one of three changes on the replacements bench

Stade Francais centre Noah Nene is also in line to make his international bow as he replaces the injured Kalvin Gourgues.

Maxime Lamothe comes in for Peato Mauvaka as the replacement hooker.

Wales and France have beaten each other 51 times apiece in their 105 previous Test matches, with three draws.

But reigning champions France are on a seven-match winning run in the fixture and have scored more than 40 points in each of the last three, including last season's 43-0 drubbing in Paris.

France are overwhelming favourites at the Principality, described by Galthie as "maybe the most beautiful stadium in the world", after Steve Tandy's team were thrashed 49-7 in their tournament opener against England.

Team (15-1)

Thomas Ramos; Theo Attissogbe, Emilien Gailleton, Fabian Brau-Boirie, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont (capt); Anthony Jelonch, Oscar Jegou, Francois Cros; Mickael Guillard, Charles Ollivon; Dorian Aldegheri, Julien Marchand, Jean-Baptiste Gros

Replacements: Maxime Lamothe, Rodrigue Neti, Regis Montagne, Thibaud Flament, Emmanuel Meafou, Lenni Nouchi, Baptiste Serin, Noah Nene

(B.Smith--TAG)