Poirot succeeds number eight Louis Picamoles, who stood in for benched hooker Guilhem Guirado to lead France to a 33-9 win over the United States.

Coach Jacques Brunel makes 11 changes to the side that beat the USA, with Romain Ntamack returning at fly-half.

Scrum-half Baptiste Serin starts after impressing off the bench on Wednesday.

Ntamack, 20, and Serin, 25, will be the third halfback partnership Brunel has used in Japan.

Only inside centre Sofiane Guitoune, hooker Camille Chat, lock Paul Gabrillagues and winger Alivereti Raka have been retained from the 15 that initially laboured against the United States before finishing strongly.

Brunel is expected to name the replacements on Friday.

France, who edged past Argentina in their World Cup opener, remain unbeaten in Japan and are second in Pool C behind England.

France team to face Tonga: Medard; Penaud, Vakatawa, Guitoune, Raka; Ntamack, Serin; Poirot, Chat, Slimani, Gabrillagues, Vahaamahina, Lauret, Ollivon, Alldritt