Coach Bernard Laporte and team manager Jo Maso on Wednesday announced their starting line-up in Marcoussis with some changes from the 43-31 victory over Ireland.

Saracens player Castaignede, 30, was called up before Les Bleus lost their opener to Scotland at Murrayfield (20-16) at the start of February but was forced to pull out with a thigh injury.

He replaces Christophe Dominici, who moves to the wing in place of Cedric Heymans who is on the bench - despite scoring two tries against Ireland.

Damien Traille replaces David Marty at centre while Thomas Lievremont comes in for Julien Bonnaire with both Marty and Bonnaire dropped to the bench.

France team to play Italy on Saturday in Paris:

T Castaignede (Saracens); A Rougerie (Clermont), F Fritz (Toulouse), D Traille (Biarritz), C Dominici (Stade Francais); F Michalak (Toulouse), J-B Elissalde (Toulouse); O Milloud (Bourgoin), R Ibanez (Wasps), P De Villiers (Stade Francais), J Thion (Biarritz), F Pelous (Toulouse, capt), Y Nyanga (Toulouse), T Lievremont (Biarritz), O Magne (London Irish)

Substitutes:
S Bruno (Sale), S Marconnet (Stade Francais), L Nallet (Castres), J Bonnaire (Bourgoin), D Yachvili (Biarritz), D Marty (Perpignan), C Heymans (Toulouse)