France superstar Antoine Dupont will be starting at first five-eighth in a shock positional switch for their clash with the Springboks in Paris on Saturday morning.
Dupont is one of the world’s best players, a specialist halfback and his nation’s captain, but an injury crisis has shorn Les Bleus of four No 10s.
Matthieu Jalibert, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Hastoy and Thomas Ramos, a fullback who covers No 10, are all unavailable for their Nations Championship test with the world champions.
The 29-year-old has limited experience of operating at No 10 and has only covered the position briefly when his club Toulouse had a similar injury crisis.
Meanwhile, the Springboks are close to full strength for an eagerly anticipated match-up in the French capital.
As it stands with two regular rounds left in the Nations Championship, France and South Africa are top of the northern and southern hemispheres respectively.
Their last meeting 12 months ago was a dramatic encounter the Springboks won 32-17 in Paris, despite playing more than half the test with 14 men after Lood de Jager’s red card.
France host the Springboks at 8.10am Sunday.
