French stick with winning combination

French manager Jo Maso has kept faith with the team which struggled to beat Ireland last month for Saturday's clash with Wales in Paris.

"We are obviously expecting something different to what happened in Dublin," Maso said. "But we decided it would not have been right to take one or two of the players away from the group which battled so hard."

The French produced a brilliant display of attacking rugby to thrash Wales by a record 51-0 at their temporary London home of Wembley last season. Scoring seven tries, the result sealed the championship for the French.

"This season especially we want to prove that our game is different, that we can offer a show and lift our performances because we are the reigning champions of Europe," Maso said.

Maso said the Welsh would be determined to make up for their two opening defeats against Scotland and Ireland.

"They have made four changes after the defeat against Ireland and we are expecting a real battle," he said.

Meanwhile, Scotland captain Gary Armstrong has been ruled out of Saturday's match with Italy at Murrayfield because of injury.

Scrum-half Armstrong injured his arm during a Scotland training session on Tuesday and will be replaced by Iain Fairley, who will earn his first senior cap.

Team manager Arthur Hastie said: "Gary has what is called a soft tissue injury. It is almost a sprained elbow. There is every possibility that he will return for the Ireland game at Murrayfield."

Fairley, 25, was a member of the Scottish side which toured Australia last year.

Head coach Jim Telfer said: "I've watched Iain throughout the season. He performed very well for Edinburgh Reivers. Iain has developed very well and I think is on a par with Bryan Redpath.

"In many ways he is similar to Gary Armstrong. He has a good break and a high work rate. He has played at centre and so, as a ball player, he is good in open space."

The captaincy has been handed to experienced number eight Eric Peters who has skippered both Cambridge and club side Bath.

France (v Wales): E Ntamack; P Bernat-Salles, R Dourthe, F Comba, T Lombard; T Castaignede, P Carbonneau; C Califano, R Ibanez, F Tournaire, O Brouzet, F Pelous, P Bennetton, O Magne, T Lievremont. Replacements: C Laussucq, D Aucagne, X Garbajosa, M Raynaud, D Auradou, S Marconnet, M Dal Maso.

Scotland (v Italy): G Metcalfe; C Murray, A Tait, J Leslie, K Logan; G Townsend, I Fairley; T Smith, G Bulloch, P Burnell, S Murray, D Weir, P Walton, M Leslie, E Peters (capt). Replace- ments: S Longstaff, C Chalmers, G Burns, B Pountney, A Reed, D Hilton, S Brotherstone.