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MARCOUSSIS, France - France rugby coach Bernard Laporte has made eight changes from the squad that defeated England for the hosts final World Cup warmup game against Wales in Cardiff on Sunday.
Skipper Raphael Ibanez, prop Olivier Milloud, lock Fabien Pelous, centre Damien Traille and full-back Clement Poitrenaud, all of whom played in the back-to-back games against England, are rested.
In come hooker Dimitri Szarzewski, South African-born prop Pieter De Villiers, first five-eighth Lionel Beauxis, lock Sebastien Chabal and flankers Serge Betsen and Remy Martin.
The veteran Betsen will captain the side for the first time in winning his 57th cap.
Among the backs David Marty will play centre in place of Traille with Vincent Clerc returning to duty on the wing in place of Cedric Heymans who will will take over from Poitrenaud at full-back.
France open their World Cup campaign against Argentina at the Stade de France on September 7.
The French squad to play Wales in a World Cup warmup game in Cardiff on Sunday:-
Forwards: Sebastien Bruno, Dmitri Szarzewski, Pieter De Villiers, Nicolas Mas, Jean-Baptiste Poux, Sebastien Chabal, Lionel Nallet, Jerome Thion, Serge Betsen (captain), Thierry Dusautoir, Imanol Harinordoquy, Remy Martin
Backs: Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Pierre Mignoni, Lionel Beauxis, David Skrela, Yannick Jauzion, David Marty, Vincent Clerc, Christophe Dominici, Cedric Heymans, Aurelien Rougerie
- AFP
