France coach Marc Lievremont on Wednesday announced several changes to his side to take on Wales in the Six Nations in Paris on Friday night including a new pairing at halfback.

Clermont's Benoit Baby, who usually plays centre, takes over from the injured Lionel Beauxis at fly-half while Bourgoin's Morgan Parra gets the nod at scrum-half in place of Sebastien Tillous-Borde who was first choice for the 22-13 win over Scotland.

There was also a first cap for exciting Stade Francais centre Mathieu Bastareaud alongside veteran Yannick Jauzion with Julien Malzieu returning to the wing in place of Maxime Medard who moves to full-back in place of Clement Poitrenaud.

In the pack Sale's Sebastien Chabal starts at lock ahead of Romain Millo-Chluski while Stade Francais prop Sylvain Marconnet returns for the first time since February 2007 after being sidelined with a leg injury sustained while skiing.

France have lost to Ireland and defeated Scotland in the Six Nations, while Wales are going for a second straight Grand Slam after wins over Scotland and England.

The clash at the Stade de France will be the first in Six Nations history to kick-off at 9pm on a Friday night.

France (15-1)

Maxime Medard; Julien Malzieu, Mathieu Bastareaud, Yannick Jauzion, Cedric Heymans; Benoit Baby, Morgan Parra; Imanol Harinordoquy, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Thierry Dusautoir; Sebastien Chabal, Lionel Nallet (capt); Sylvain Marconnet, Dimitri Szarzewski, Fabien Barcella.

Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Thomas Domingo, Romain Millo-Chluski, Louis Picamoles, Sebastien Tillous-Borde, Francois Trinh-Duc, Clement Poitrenaud.

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