Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union

France have dropped experienced half-backs Morgan Parra and Francois Trinh-Duc for the Six Nations match against England on Sunday.

Coach Philippe Saint-Andre has replaced the duo with Julien Dupuy at scrum-half and Lionel Beauxis at fly-half.

SAINT-ANDRE'S HALF-BACKS 4 February, France 30-12 Italy: Scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili , fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc

26 February, Scotland 17-France 23: Scrum-half Morgan Parra , fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc

4 March, France 17-17 Ireland: Scrum-half Morgan Parra , fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc

11 March, France v England: Scrum-half Julien Dupuy , fly-half Lionel Beauxis

Centre Aurelien Rougerie has kept his place even after his intercepted pass led to a try in the 17-17 draw with Ireland last weekend.

Beauxis last faced England in the 2007 World Cup semi-final loss in Paris.

Parra kicked four penalties against Ireland, but he and Trinh-Duc failed to spark France's attack.

Ex-Stade Francais team-mates Dupuy and Beauxis are the third half-back pairing Saint-Andre has used in four matches.

"They know each other well because they've played together as half backs at Stade Francais," Saint-Andre told reporters on Wednesday.

"It's a strategic choice on my part. England are the team that occupy the field of play the most, especially away from home."

After the stalemate against Ireland, France will need to avoid defeat against England to head into the final game with Wales on 17 March in Cardiff with a chance of winning the Six Nations.

Bryn Palmer's blog This week it is "Le Crunch", that well-worn label for an encounter that often provided a decisive pointer to the destination of the title in the 1990s and early 2000s. Read more of Bryn's blog

TEAM NEWS

France: Clement Poitrenaud; Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Wesley Fofana, Julien Malzieu; Lionel Beauxis, Julien Dupuy; Jean-Baptiste-Poux, Dimiti Szarzewski, Nicolas Mas; Pascal Pape, Yoann Maestri; Thierry Dusautoir, Julien Bonnaire, Imanol Harinordoquy.

Replacements: William Servat, Vincent Debaty, Lionel Nallet, Louis Picamoles, Morgan Parra, Francois Trinh-Duc, Maxime Mermoz