Following their home loss to England, France have rung the changes in naming three uncapped players in their team to face Italy in Sunday's Six Nations match at Stade de France.

Bourgoin centre Yann David, 19, comes in along with prop Fabien Barcella and flanker Ibrahim Diarra, both 24.

Centre Yannick Jauzion is back after recovering from a hand injury which forced him to miss the first three games of the tournament.

Fullback Anthony Floch, a substitute against England, will make his first start in a squad showing nine changes in all.

"We have always sent out competitive teams and the players who are the best available at their posts," said coach Marc Lievremont, who has increasingly been giving youth its head with an eye on the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

David will slot in alongside Toulouse's Jauzion, who is now up to a half century of caps, with David Marty and Damien Traille benched.

In the French third row Montalban's Ibrahim Diarra gets the nod over Clermont's Julien Bonnaire, while Fulgence Ouedraogo replaces Thierry Dusautoir and Louis Picamoles will go in as No.8.

Fabien Barcella comes in for Lionel Faure as loosehead prop with Nicolas Mas at tighthead and Dimitri Szarzewski at hooker.

Lievemont is not underestimating an Italian side who have given their rivals plenty of food for thought, save for their 47-8 hiding in Wales.

"We are wary as this team of theirs has competed in the fundamental areas in their first three matches in terms of (territorial) conquest and aggression.

"After their hammering in Wales they will want to bounce back at Stade de France, especially as some of them play in the French championship."

French team to face Italy in the Six Nations on Sunday at Stade de France.

Anthony Floch, Aurelien Rougerie, Yannick Jauzion, Yann David, Julien Malzieu, Francois Trinh-Duc, Dimitri Yachvili, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Louis Picamoles, Ibrahim Diarra, Jerome Thion, Lionel Nallet (capt), Nicolas Mas, Dimitri Szarzewski, Fabien Barcella. Res: Guilhem Guirado, Jean-Baptiste Poux, Arnaud Mela, Julien Bonnaire, Julien Tomas, Damien Traille, Vincent Clerc.

AFP