Only prop Pieter de Villiers, second five-eighth Damien Traille, and Cedric Heymans, who moves from fullback to his favourite position on the wing, have been retained.

First five Frederic Michalak and lock Sebastien Chabal are included in the starting XV, with the hosts now in danger of an early exit or a quarter-final clash with the All Blacks in Cardiff.

Laporte said the reshuffle within the squad was not intended to punish his players after the poor opening performance against Argentina.

"It's not a sanction. I don't like the word sanctions. Our players are not school children," he said.

"We said we would win the World Cup with 30 players. We can't tell the players that there is a competition among the squad and keep the same team."

Halfback Jean-Baptiste Elissalde will take over the captaincy, playing alongside Michalak, who replaces the injured David Skrela at first-five.

Wing Vincent Clerc, centre David Marty and fullback Clement Poitrenaud have also been included.

France will field an entirely new loose forward trio comprising of Julien Bonnaire at No 8 and flankers Yannick Nyanga and Thierry Dusautoir.

Chabal, who came on as a replacement against the Pumas, will start the game at lock.

"We know we have to win our next three games against, Nambia, Ireland and Georgia and pick up all the bonus points available," Laporte said.

"The game against Namibia will not be an easy one. We have to set the record straight.