Francois Trinh-Duc will make his first start for France in eight months after being named in the starting XV to face England at Twickenham on Saturday.
The Montpellier fly-half is one of seven changes made by head coach Phillipe Saint-Andre in attempt to revive their Six Nations campaign after two defeats in the opening two rounds.
Trinh-Duc takes over from Frederic Michalak who drops to the bench and will form a new-look half-back partnership as out-of-favour Morgan Parra has been named at scrum-half.
Toulouse Vincent Clerc has been recalled on the right wing after missing the first two rounds through injury pushing Wesley Fofana in the midfield where he will partner Toulon powerhouse Mathieu Bastareaud.
Up front, Clermont duo Thomas Domingo and former Leicester player Benjamin Kayser are preferred to Yannick Forestier and Dimitri Szarzewski at loosehead and hooker respectively.
Behind them, Castres lock Christophe Samson is named ahead of Jocelino Suta with Toulouse flanker Yannick Nyanga taking the place of the injured Fulgence Ouedraogo at blindside.
On the bench, South-Africa born Antonie Claassen looks set to make his Test debut for Les Bleus after qualifying through residency.
France: Yohan Huget; Vincent Clerc, Mathieu Bastareaud, Wesley Fofana, Benjamin Fall; Francois Trinh-Duc, Morgan Parra; Thomas Domingo, Benjamin Kayser, Nicolas Mas; Christophe Samson, Yohan Maestri; Yannick Nyanga, Thierry Dusautoir (Capt.), Louis Picamoles.
Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewki, Vincent Debaty, Luc Ducalcon, Jocelino Suta, Antonie Claassen, Maxime Machenaud, Frederic Michalak, Floriant Fritz.