To add to France's underwhelming display in the opener, the nine-day period between matches has seen impressive, powerful displays come from fellow cup favourites the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies.

The anticipated bonus point victory for France should get their campaign back on track and keep them in the quarter-final calculations in a tight Pool D.

"It's a rebirth game, we want to rediscover the real French team - the will and determination and the feel for the game we had against England during our preparation games," said the France team manager Jo Maso.

Spots up for grabs

France have made 12 changes to their starting XV ahead of Sunday's game.

Head coach Bernard Laporte was always likely to use much of his reserve squad in this match but an eye-catching display from one of the 12 new faces could bring them into calculations for the first-choice side in later matches.

The three players who remain from the 17-12 loss to Argentina are Pieter de Villiers, Damien Traille and Cedric Heymans.

Namibia has made two changes and one tactical switch to the team that lost 32-17 to Ireland in their opening match.

In the back row Jacques Nieuwenhuis swaps with Jacques Burger at number 8, who moves to flanker.

Flanker Michael MacKenzie replaces the injured Heino Senekal, while Jurie van Tonder replaces Eugene Jantjies at the base of the scrum.

Three 'fetchers' in the back row

The reshaped back row are all genuine opensides, showing Namibia's wish to control the breakdown.

"We want them (the back row) quick on the ball," said Namibia head coach Hakkies Husselman. "If you play France and they are able to spread the ball quick and wide then we are going to be in trouble.

"We are going to try to slow the ball down and keep them (France) a little bit caged."

The match is at the Stade Municipal at 21:00 (CET). Source: Rugby World Cup News Release