Venter is one of two changes to the backline that lost 38-3 to Ireland in Dublin last week.

The flyhalf, Handré Pollard, also earns a start, with Elton Jantjies moving to the bench.

Upfront there are also two personnel changes with the seasoned Duane Vermeulen starting at the back of the scrum in the place of the injured Pieter-Steph du Toit. This leads to a positional switch with Francois Louw moving to the flank.

In the front-row Wilco Louw replaces the injured Coenie Oosthuizen at tighthead prop.

Pollard says the return of Vermeulen brings a certain calmness to the side.

“A calm older head is always nice to have.

“He brings so much leadership in different aspects of the game, mostly in the breakdown and in defence. His knowledge of the game in those areas of the game is absolutely unbelievable.

“He is going to contribute in every department as much as he can and at the end of the day he is going to play and he is going to play to the best of his ability.

“He is a great team guy and we really enjoy having him here and yes the leaderships is definitely a bonus as well.”

Pollard who has limited opportunity over the past two years due injured added that is it very important for the half-backs to combine well on Saturday.

“Half-backs really spend a lot of time together talking about the plan and what we want to do where.

“It’s not as if we play here often, its different conditions and we will help each other as much as we can.

“Ross Cronjé and Rudy Paige are quite experience and a bit older. They have both been around the block as well.

“Although it has been mainly in the southern hemisphere they know what they can do and when.

“It’s just a matter of executing on Saturday.”

Saturday evening’s Test at Stade France kicks off at 22:00.

France - 15 Nans Ducuing, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 11 Yoann Huget, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Kevin Gourdon, 6 Judicael Cancoriet, 5 Paul Gabrillagues, 4 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhem Guirado (captain), 1 Jefferson Poirot.

Replacements - 16 Clement Mayanadier, 17 Sebastien Taofifenua, 18 Daniel Kotze, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Anthony Jelonch, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Francois Trinh-Duc, 23 Damian Penaud.

Springboks – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements – 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Dan du Preez, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Damien de Allende.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport