Huget back with France against Pumas after 1-year absence

PARIS (AP) — Wing Yoann Huget will play his first match with France in a year against Argentina this weekend.

Huget will start against the Pumas as a replacement for Damian Penaud, who misses the home test because of a right ankle injury he sustained in a 29-26 loss to South Africa last week.

France coach Jacques Brunel has made two changes to his team, giving a starting role to center Gael Fickou at the expense of Geoffrey Doumayrou. The Stade Francais player has delivered consistent performances with his club this season but had been left out of the team that started against the Springboks as Brunel tried to bolster his defense.

Brunel opted for a more offensive side to face Argentina in Lille on Saturday and Fickou will start alongside Mathieu Bastareaud in his favorite position. The France coach kept faith with his halfback pairing of Camille Lopez and scrumhalf Baptiste Serin.

Huget won his 52nd cap with France and will feature for the Tricolores for the first time since an 18-17 loss to South Africa last November.

Since he took over last December, Brunel has won just two matches against Italy and England in the Six Nations.

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France: Maxime Medard, Teddy Thomas, Mathieu Bastareaud, Gael Fickou, Yoann Huget, Camille Lopez, Baptiste Serin; Louis Picamoles, Arthur Iturria, Wenceslas Lauret, Yoann Maestri, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Cedate Gomes Sa, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Jefferson Poirot. Reserves: Camille Chat, Dany Priso, Rabah Slimani, Paul Gabrillagues, Mathieu Babillot, Antoine Dupont, Anthony Belleau, Benjamin Fall.