The Toulon centre takes over the armband from hooker Guilhem Guirado who has been ruled out with a knee injury.
Guirado is replaced in the starting XV by Adrien Pelissie, while Toulouse star Gael Fickou replaces full-back Hugo Bonneval who has a head injury.
Fickou will line up on the wing alongside Remy Grosso, while Geoffrey Doumayrou partners Bastareaud in midfield.
Maxime Machenaud will start at scrum half and is partnered at half-back by outside half Francois Trinh-Duc.
The only other change sees Cedate Gomes Sa start at tight-head prop instead of Clermont Auvergne’s Rabah Slimani. Sa and Pelissie will be joined in the front-row by Jefferson Poirot, with Sebastien Vahamaahina and Paul Gabrillagues at lock.
Wenceslas Lauret, Yacouba Camara and Marco Tauleigne form a formidable back-row unit. France are full of confidence coming to Cardiff following their stunning 22-16 victory over England in Paris last weekend.
“For some time he has a sort of serenity which can influence the team,” said France head coach Jacques Brunel.
“He’s like a quiet force. We know the weight he can have on the pitch, with or without the ball.”
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