CENTRE Mathieu Bastareaud has been dropped to the bench for France's Six Nations game against Wales in Paris on Saturday.

Coach Philippe Saint Andre has made five changes to the team that lost in Dublin last time out, three of them enforced.

Remy Lamerat takes over from Bastareaud. Brice Dulin comes in for omitted Scott Spedding at full-back.

Romain Taofifenua takes over from banned lock Pascal Pape with Sofian Guitone comes in on the wing and Morgan Parra at scrum-half.

France: Dulin; Y Huget, R Lamerat, W Fofana, S Guitoune; C Lopez, M Parra; E Ben Arous, G Guirado, R Slimani, R Taofifenua, Y Maestri T Dusautoir (Captain), B Le Roux, D Chouly.

Replacements: B Kayser, U Atonio, V Debaty, J Suta, L Goujon, R Tales, M Bastareaud.