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France name team for Italy

By Online Editors
The France players line up for the national anthem prior to the Guinness Six Nations match against England in February (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Beleagured Jacques Brunel has ripped asunder his France team that were humiliated in Dublin last Sunday, making six changes to the side that will play Italy in Rome on Saturday. 

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France were massively out-played by Ireland, only responding with two consolation tries after falling 26 points in arrears.

It was their 10th loss in Brunel’s 14-match reign and the under-fire coach has responded by ringing the changes for fear that their terrible Six Nations campaign could finish on the humiliating low of a Stadio Olimpico defeat. 

The French forwards had no answer to Ireland’s pressure game and Brunel had made four alterations to his pack. With Jefferson Poirot injured, Etienne Falgoux will make his first Test start at loosehead.

Paul Willemse returns to the second row to partner Felix Lambey, while Yacouba Camara and Gregory Alldritt are both handed starts in the back row in place of the injured Wenceslas Lauren and Arthur Iturria who drops to the bench.

(Continue reading below…)

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In the backs, Wesley Fofana, who was injured in the championship opener against Wales, returns in place of Gael Fickou. The other back line change sees Maxime Medard return at full-back for his Toulouse clubmate Thomas Ramos.

“We want to show a different face this week, but the results speak themselves,” said Brunel after announcing his team.

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“We are not at the level of some of the other teams in this championship. But the team that played against Ireland and England, that was not the real French team.

“We haven’t fixed everything. Of course there are still things we need to work on. We will carry on, working hard and with the World Cup to come, we are hopeful we can get it right.”

FRANCE TEAM (versus Italy)

15. Maxime Medard (Toulouse)

14. Damian Penaud (Clermont)

13. Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon)

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12. Wesley Fofana (Clermont)

11. Yoann Huget (Toulouse)

10. Romain Ntamack (Toulouse)

9. Antoine Dupont (Toulouse)

1. Etienne Falgoux (Clermont)

2. Guilhem Guirado (Montpellier)

3. Demba Bamba (Brive)

4. Felix Lambey (Lyon)

5. Paul Willemse (Montpellier)

6. Gregory Alldritt (La Rochelle)

7. Yacouba Camara (Montpellier)

8. Louis Picamoles (Montpellier)

Replacements:

16. Camille Chat (Racing 92)

17. Dany Priso (La Rochelle)

18. Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse)

19. Paul Gabrillagues (Stade Francais)

20. Arthur Iturria (Clermont)

21. Baptiste Serin (Bordeaux-Begles)

22. Camille Lopez (Clermont)

23. Thomas Ramos (Toulouse)

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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