Rory Kockott will make his first Test start for France in their Six Nations opener against Scotland on Saturday.
The Castres scrum-half, who came off the bench in all three November Tests, but takes over from the injured Sébastien Tillous-Borde with the recalled Morgan Parra on the bench.
Fellow South African-born Scott Spedding remains at full-back despite the incumbent Brice Dulin returning from a bicep injury.
Rabah Slimani preffered at tighthead instead of veteran Nicolas Mas while on the bench La Rochelle No.8 Loann Goujon is set to make his Test debut.
France: Scott Spedding; Yoann Huget, Mathieu Bastareaud, Wesley Fofana, Teddy Thomas; Camille Lopez, Rory Kockott; Alexandre Menini, Guilhem Guirado, Rabah Slimani; Pascal Papé, Yoann Maestri; Thierry Dusautoir (Capt.), Bernard Le Roux, Damien Chouly.
Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Uini Atonio, Eddy Ben Arous, Romain Taofifenua, Loann Goujon, Morgan Parra, Rémi Talès, Rémi Lamerat.