Romain Ntamack returns for Six Nations decider as France confirm five changes for Scotland

Matthieu Jalibert’s injury has opened the door to the top points scorer from last year’s championship

Romain Ntamack celebrates with Arthur Vincent (Getty)

France will hand a first Six Nations 2021 start to fly-half Romain Ntamack with the title on the line this Friday against Scotland.

The opportunity for Ntamack, who shone in last year’s championship, topping the points scorers’ chart, comes as a result of Matthieu Jalibert’s injury, with five personnel changes announced in total.

Further moves from head coach Fabien Galthie come in the shape of second-row pair Bernard Le Roux and Swan Rebbadj, flanker Anthony Jelonch and centre Arthur Vincent all earning recalls.

Following victory over Wales last weekend, the equation for Les Bleus boils down to needing a bonus-point victory and a winning margin of at least 21 points in Paris to become champions for the first time since 2010, otherwise glory will belong to Wales.

Meanwhile, Jonny Gray has not recovered from a shoulder injury and Sean Maitland will also miss out for the visitors.

Read more:

• Should football boycott the Qatar World Cup?
• A lost generation of future footballers
• Lewis Hamilton ‘being used’ by Black Lives Matter, claims Bernie Ecclestone
• Rio Ferdinand identifies Frank Lampard’s key mistake that led to Chelsea sacking
• ‘It’s nice that it’s just the norm for us’: Life in the most gender equal sport on the planet

Maitland, who started at fullback in the 52-10 win over Italy on Saturday, was left out for the rearranged match, which had been postponed after a COVID-19 outbreak in the French camp.

Scottish media said the absence of Saracens winger Maitland was due to a limited number of England-based players being made available to the Scots as the game is being played outside the international window.

Captain Stuart Hogg, centre Chris Harris, scrumhalf Scott Steele, and locks Sam Skinner and Alex Craig are the five English-based players retained in the Scottish squad.

Gray also misses out on the 29-man squad named by coach Gregor Townsend for the trip to the Stade de France. The influential second rower had been hurt against Ireland and missed Saturday’s win over Italy.

France must record a bonus-point victory and win by at least 21 points if they are to beat Wales to the Six Nations title.

Reuters contributed to this report