Louis Picamoles and Noa Nakaitaci will return to France's starting XV as they look to top Pool D with victory over Ireland at the Rugby World Cup.

The duo's respective recalls represent the only changes that Philippe Saint-Andre has made for this weekend's clash in Cardiff, with Picamoles set to win his 50th cap in place of Bernard Le Roux.

Top spot in the Pool will be highly sought-after, as it will mean avoiding a quarter-final clash with a New Zealand side looking more menacing as the tournament goes on.

And Saint-Andre has named a strong side for Sunday's encounter with 13 of the starters from France's opening match against Italy involved.

But there is no place for Morgan Parra as Sebastien Tillous-Borde keeps his place at scrum-half.

France's starting XV also includes 10 players from the side beaten 18-11 by Ireland in February, Saint-Andre keen to exact revenge for that Six Nations loss with a crucial World Cup win. 

France: Scott Spedding, Noa Nakaitaci, Mathieu Bastareaud, Wesley Fofana, Brice Dulin, Frederic Michalak, Sebastien Tillous-Borde; Eddy Ben Arous, Guilhem Guirado, Rabah Slimani, Pascal Pape, Yoann Maestri, Thierry Dusautoir, Damien Chouly, Louis Picamoles.

Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Vincent Debaty, Nicolas Mas, Alexandre Flanquart, Bernard Le Roux, Morgan Parra, Remi Tales, Alexandre Dumoulin