Clermont Auvergne’s Julien Bonnaire will earn his 50th cap for Les Bleus, replacing injured flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo.

Bayonne's 20-year-old winger Benjamin Fall comes in for Vincent Clerc, after the Toulouse star became the latest name added to a long list of French players on the treatment table.

Toulouse's Jean-Baptiste Poux is called up to the replacements after injury ruled out Stade Francais prop Sylvain Marconnet.

"Fall is not as experienced as Clerc but we hope the change will not affect the spirits of the team," said Lievremont.

"The return of Bonnaire is logical because he was with us as a playing replacement against Scotland and Ireland and will bring us more options at the line-out."

Although the injury to Clerc is a setback for the French after back-to-back wins over Scotland and Ireland, Lievremont hopes they will carry on their impressive start.

"We'll travel to Cardiff with a lot of respect for the Welsh but we want to capitalise on our first two wins,” he added.

"I think that contrary to us, the Welsh had problems in their first half against England and Scotland but played very well at the end of both games.

They are yet to play good rugby over 80 minutes but we expect a very complicated game on Friday."