France have named rampaging forward Sebastien Chabal in their line-up for Friday's must-win game with Ireland, with coach Bernard Laporte making four changes to the team that beat Namibia.

Laporte has retained Chabal at lock following his two-try performance in France's 87-10 demolition of Namibia on Sunday, and the Sale player will pack down in the second row with the recalled Jerome Thion.

Also recalled are hooker and captain Rafael Ibanez, flanker Serge Betsen and prop Oliver Milloud.

"We choose Chabal because of his performances not because of the marketing factor," Laporte said on Wednesday.

"If Sebastien is at the top of the bill it's because he is performing well on the pitch, because of his speed, his spring and his fiery power and because he brings enthusiasm, dynamism and confidence to the team."

There is no place for winger Aurelien Rougerie and centre Yannick Jauzion, both of whom played in the defeat to Argentina but not against Namibia.

Laporte has kept faith with Vincent Clerc and Cedric Heymans on the wings, while David Marty is given the chance to continue his partnership with Damien Traille in the France midfield.

"Yannick is not at his best physically and the association of Damien Traille and David Marty worked well against Namibia because Marty is a real outside centre whereas Traille and Jauzion both play inside," Laporte explained.

Thierry Dusautoir has also kept his spot on the openside flank and forms a backrow with Betsen on the blindside and Julien Bonnaire at number eight.

Dusautoir was only called into France's 30-man squad when Elvis Vermeulen was ruled out with a slipped disk.

Laporte has also decided to keep faith with his mercurial fly-half Frederic Michalak, ahead of David Skrela. Michalak was in superb form against Namibia and is covered by Lionel Beauxis on the bench.

Having lost their opening game against the Pumas, France cannot afford another loss at the Stade de France on Friday evening.

Despite struggling, Ireland have won both of their games against Namibia and Georgia.

France: 15-Clement Poitrenaud, 14-Vincent Clerc, 13-David Marty, 12-Damien Traille, 11-Cedric Heymans, 10-Frederic Michalak, 9-Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 8-Julien Bonnaire, 7-Thierry Dusautoir, 6-Serge Betsen, 5-Jerome Thion, 4-Sebastien Chabal 3-Pieter de Villiers, 2-Raphael Ibanez, 1-Olivier Milloud.

Replacements: 16-Dimitri Szarzewski, 17-Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18-Lionel Nallet, 19-Yannick Nyanga, 20-Lionel Bauxis, 21-Yannick Jauzion, 22-Aurelien Rougerie.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport