Ireland vs France: Romain Ntamack and Damian Penaud return for visitors, who retain 7-1 bench split

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Ireland vs France: Romain Ntamack and Damian Penaud return for visitors, who retain 7-1 bench split

Romain Ntamack and Damian Penaud have returned to the France line-up for Saturday’s Six Nations game against Ireland in Dublin (14:15 GMT).

Fly-half Ntamack returns from suspension while Penaud is recalled to the right wing after being left out of the matchday squad for the win over Italy a fortnight ago.

Ntamack and Penaud’s return means Leo Barre and Theo Attissogbe drop out.

France head coach Fabien Galthie has again opted to go with seven forwards and just one back on the bench having used the tactic in last month’s 73-24 win in Rome.

Locks Emmanuel Meafou and Hugo Auradou replace Romain Taofifenua and Alexandre Roumat on the bench, with Maxime Lucu the only player providing backs cover.

Galthie has named an unchanged pack with back row Gregory Alldritt having shaken off fitness concerns to start.

Ntamack renews his half-back partnership with captain Antoine Dupont after serving a two-game ban for his red card in the opening win over Wales.

Penaud, who has scored in his last two appearances against Ireland, is one try away from equalling Serge Blanco’s record mark of 38.

Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the tournament’s top scorer with five tries, retains his place on the left wing.

Three-in-a-row chasing Ireland lead the standings on 14 points after three games. France are three points behind the holders, so victory for Les Bleus could give them control of the title race heading into the final round of fixtures.

Ireland will name their team at 12:00 GMT on Thursday.

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