Les Bleus need to beat the unbeaten Welsh by at least 20 points to retain their title and Head Coach Marc Lievremont, who has been so willing to blood fresh talent this tournament, has chosen to go with the tried and tested for this weekend.
Toulouse quartet William Servat, Thierry Dusautoir, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Cedric Heymans return, while there are also recalls for Stade Francais fly half David Skrela and Clermont Auvergne No.8 Elvis Vermeulen.
Flanker Ibrahim Diarra (thigh) and centre Yann David (calf) made their debuts in Sunday’s 25-13 win over Italy but drop out through injury. Hooker Guillem Guirado, No.8 Louis Picamoles, scrum half Julien Tomas and winger Aurelien Rougerie are the other players to miss out.
Rougerie’s absence is a surprise, given his impressive, try-scoring showing against the Italians.
It is the first time this tournament that Lievremont has failed to select an uncapped player in his squad. France, who have won the last two RBSÂ Six Nations, go into this weekend two points adrift of Wales and with an inferior points difference of 38.
France squad
Backs: J B Elissalde (Toulouse), D Yachvili (Biarritz), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), D Skrela (Stade Francais), D Traille (Biarritz), Y Jauzion, V Clerc (both Toulouse), J Malzieu (Clermont-Auvergne), C Heymans (Toulouse), A Floch (Clermont-Auvergne)
Forwards: D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), W Servat (Toulouse), F Barcella (Auch), J-B Poux (Toulouse), N Mas (Perpignan), L Nallet (Castres, capt), A Mela (Albi), J Thion (Biarritz), F Ouedraogo (Montpellier), T Dusautoir (Toulouse), J Bonnaire, E Vermeulen (both Clermont-Auvergne)
