Marcoussis, France--Young Stade Francais fly-half Jules Plisson has been called up for France's final Six Nations clash with England on Saturday as coach Philippe Saint-Andre named a 16th different half-back pairing on Thursday.
Plisson, 23, comes in for injured first-choice No.10 Camille Lopez, who misses the game at Twickenham due to a knee problem.
With Sebastien Tillous-Borde remaining at scrum-half, it will be the 16th different half-back pairing Saint-Andre has picked in just over three years and now 37 matches at the France helm.
Clermont's Lopez, who has been Saint-Andre's first choice playmaker for France's last seven internationals dating back to the November tests, was on Wednesday ruled out for four to six weeks.
Saint-Andre defended his rotation, saying he had no choice in changing his half-back partnership -- although he suggested Clermont had effectively made the decision for him.
"He trained Wednesday morning without any problems, without strapping. He was even kicking," said a visibly irritated Saint-Andre.
"At the end of Wednesday, Clermont, their medical staff, decreed that he needs to rest for four to six weeks.
"We spoke to Camille at the end of the day, he had doubts.
"I need players who have no doubts. Camille didn't have any on Wednesday morning. (Then) he had some, he was worried on Wednesday evening.
"Clermont considered he needed rest. The Clermont doctor (did), without examining him, from the images we sent him because we are transparent with the clubs.
"So Camille is returning to Lyon to see the specialist who operated on him."
Lopez suffered a torn cruciate ligament to the same knee in 2013 that required surgery.
He had been picked for two tests on the Tour to New Zealand that June but having injured his knee at the end of the year, had to wait until November 2014 to pull on the blue shirt.
- sixth cap for Plisson -
Plisson will be earning his sixth France cap having come on at half-time for Lopez last week in the 29-0 victory over Italy in Rome.
He also started the first four Six Nations matches in last season's tournament, including a 26-24 victory over England at the Stade de France.
Since then, however, he had fallen out of favour with Saint-Andre, until being called up last week in place of Remi Tales to deputise for Lopez.
The only other change sees Vincent Debaty replace Eddy Ben Arous at prop after the latter suffered an injury to his arm.
Tales and Uini Atonio replace Plisson and Debaty on the France bench.
Last week, Saint-Andre had made eight changes to his starting line-up following back-to-back defeats against Ireland and at home to Wales.
But the French performed much better in ending a run of two straight defeats in Rome and the coach said that group deserved another chance.
AFP
