France coach Marc Lievremont made five changes to the side that was humiliated by Italy as he tries to make amends against Wales in their final Six Nations match at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Lievremont lashed out at his players following the 22-21 defeat in Rome, saying he was “ashamed” by their performance and vowing that some big names would never wear the France jersey again.

Ahead of a match the French will be expected to win, and instill some degree of hope six months before the World Cup kicks off in New Zealand, the former international has taken his tone down a notch.

“I regret some of the things I said on Sunday morning, when I said that some players had probably played their last match for France,” Lievremont said.

“It was clumsy of me, although I still maintain that changes have to be made.”

Lievremont has notably brought in Biarritz’s Damien Traille and David Marty, of Perpignan, at centre, with Brive’s Alexis Palisson coming in on the left wing.

Win or lose on Saturday, England, who face Ireland away, will almost certainly claim the Six Nations title because of their vastly superior points difference to second-placed Wales.