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France include seven uncapped players in squad for Wallabies test

Coach Fabien Galthie has named an inexperienced side to face Australia on July 7. Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images

France have included seven uncapped players in their 23-man squad to play Australia in Brisbane on July 7, with hooker Gaetan Barlot and fullback Melvyn Jaminet set to make their debuts.

The first of three tests on July 7 was moved to Brisbane's Lang Park in the wake of Sydney's two-week COVID-19 lockdown. Brisbane also hosts the third and final test on July 17 while the second test is in Melbourne on July 13.

Flanker Anthony Jelonch, who has nine test caps, will captain the inexperienced side. The most experienced player in the squad is winger Damian Penaud with 23 caps.

Jelonch, Penaud and centre Arthur Vincent are the only players who started France's final Six Nations match in March when they lost to Scotland and handed the title to Wales.

Coach Fabien Galthie has named an inexperienced squad after many first-choice players played in the TOP 14 final last weekend where Toulouse beat La Rochelle. Due to COVID-19 protocols in Australia, there was little time to get them involved for the first test.

The French players arrived in the country last month but were forced to quarantine for 14 days. They will leave Sydney for Brisbane the day before the match.

France team for Australia:

Starting XV:

Melvyn Jaminet, Damian Penaud, Arthur Vincent, Jonathan Danty, Gabin Villiere, Louis Carbonel, Baptiste Couilloud, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Gaetan Barlot, Demba Bamba, Killian Geraci, Romain Taofifenua, Dylan Cretin, Anthony Jelonch (captain), Sekou Macalou

Replacements:

Anthony Etrillard, Quentin Walcker, Sipili Falatea, Florent Vanverberghe, Baptiste Pesenti, Cameron Woki, Teddy Iribaren, Anthony Bouthier