Yachvili returns for Twickenham clash

France have made three changes to the side which beat Wales last time out for Sunday's Six Nations Championship clash against England at Twickenham.

Dimitri Yachvili returns at scrumhalf in place of Pierre Mignoni, who has started all three games so far in the tournament.

In the pack, Sale Sharks number eight Sebastien Chabal and Stade Francais prop Pieter De Villiers are back, replacing Elvis Vermeulen and Nicolas Mas respectively.

Chabal's colleague at Sale, Sebastien Bruno, is named on the bench and will be back-up hooker to Raphael Ibanez, who is again captain in the absence of Fabien Pelous.

Yachvili has been the scourge of England in the Six Nations since the 2003 World Cup, his kicking helping Les Bleus down the world champions for the past three years.

The Biarritz number nine is brought back even though Mignoni has been one of the stars of the France team in their unbeaten campaign.

Yachvili will share kicking duties with outhalf David Skrela, who starts his fourth straight game.

Olivier Milloud keeps his place at prop owing to the absence of Sylvain Marconnet, who fractured his tibia and fibula while skiing last weekend.

France, who have already beaten Italy, Ireland and Wales in the tournament, know a win over England will virtually guarantee them the Six Nations crown for the second year running.

And with their final game being against Scotland, a third Grand Slam in six years will be there for the taking.

Chabal returns after missing the 32-21 win over Wales at the Stade de France on February 24th with a leg injury.

Vermeulen had a solid game against the Welsh, and was arguably the best player for the French Barbarians in their 28-14 defeat by Argentina last weekend.

But head coach Bernard Laporte has gone with Chabal, insisting: "He had good games against Italy and Ireland, so it is logical he is in the team."

On Yachvili's return, Laporte added: "It is an advantage to have another kicker there."

A win for France would all but tie up another championship ahead of the World Cup they host in September.

Defeat would keep England's slim hopes of a championship alive but is more likely to reopen the door for Ireland to claim a title.

France XV(v England): C Poitrenaud; V Clerc (both Toulouse), D Marty (Perpignan), Y Jauzion (Toulouse), C Dominici; D Skrela (both Stade Francais), D Yachvili (Biarritz); O Milloud (Bourgoin), R Ibanez (Wasps, capt), P De Villiers (Stade Francais), L Nallet (Castres), J Thion, S Betsen (both Biarritz), J Bonnaire (Bourgoin), SChabal (Sale).

Replacements:N Mas (Perpignan), S Bruno (Sale), P Pape (Castres), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), P Mignoni (Clermont-Auvergne), L Beauxis (Stade Francais), C Heymans (Toulouse).