Six Nations - Chabal one of four France changes

Eurosport - Wed, 11 Feb 08:18:00 2009

France coach Marc Lievremont has dropped lock Sebastien Chabal and made three other changes to the starting side that lost 30-21 to Ireland for the Six Nations game against Scotland.

Sebastien Chabal - France - 0

Chabal (pictured), wing Julien Malzieu and loosehead prop Lionel Faure have been demoted while tight-head Benoit Lecouls has been ruled out through a neck injury.

The quartet are replaced by Romain Millo-Chluski, Cedric Heymans, Fabien Barcella and Nicolas Mas respectively.

"These changes are not individual sanctions but just a rotation within the squad because our defeat at Croke Park was due to a collective lapse and not individual failures," Lievremont said.

"We have to find solutions but we also want to stick to our game plan. We are not proud of what we did at Croke Park. Players are hurt but I'm sure they will lift up again against Scotland."

Explaining Chabal's demotion to the bench, Lievremont said: "I read that we have a problem with Chabal but we don't.

"Everything Sebastien did at Croke Park, he did it well."

Lievremont then added that Chabal "had been less present at the rucks" against the Irish.

The inclusion of Heymans means that the French backline will be entirely made up of players from Toulouse, with Yannick Jauzion and Florian Fritz at centre, Maxime Medard and Heymans on the wings and Clement Poitrenaud at fullback.

There is a doubt, however, over Fritz who has been cited for alleged gouging by the commissioner of the Ireland game.

The hearing before an independent three-man disciplinary committee is scheduled to take place on Wednesday in London.

"Until proven guilty, Florian is innocent as far as we are concerned," Lievremont said. "We saw the tape of the incident and there is nothing against him."

France: 15-Clement Poitrenaud, 14-Maxime Medard, 13-Yannick Jauzion, 12-Florian Fritz, 11-Cedric Heymans, 10-Lionel Beauxis, 9-Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 8-Imanol Harinordoquy, 7-Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6-Thierry Dusautoir, 5-Lionel Nallet (captain), 4-Romain Millo-Chluski, 3-Nicolas Mas, 2-Dimitri Szarzewski, 1-Fabien Barcella.

Replacements: 16-Benjamin Kayzer, 17-Renaud Boyoud, 18-Sebastien Chabal, 19-Louis Picamoles, 20-Morgan Parra, 21-Benoit Baby, 22-Julien Malzieu.

Reuters

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  1. wales have always had more rugby talent tahn any other­ country we just needed dicipline and structure. Gatland­ + edwards. Theres no one going to touch this side for 5­ yrs. especially not brian odriscoll, very overated with­ out the munster pack they would be nothing

    From Taff, on Thu 12 Feb 12:37PM

  2. It doesn't matter what people have won in the last­ 10 years. We're talking about this year, I­ don't think england or France are saying much at­ the moment.

    From Dave, on Thu 12 Feb 1:04AM

  3. what have the irish won in the last 10 yrs, absolutley­ porthcawl

    From Taff, on Wed 11 Feb 4:30PM

  4. It looks like I will have to forget about this site,­ and just stick with Irishrugby.ie if I want to know­ anything about my team!!!!!!!! Why no info on­ Ireland?? They played
    a blinder on Saturday, and­ there's not even a mention. SIX NATIONS RUGBY?? I­ don't think so!!!!!!! One nation, it would seem,­ judging by the 6 headlines below. Not nearly good­ enough!!

    From wendy s, on Wed 11 Feb 12:37PM

  5. errr.. this article is about Frances preparations and­ team for the game against Scotland. If you would like­ to read about the Irish team, then please go and read­ an article about the Irish team. I think you'll­ find there is quite a large bias towards Ireland on­ most sites especially the BBC.

    Eurosport will write­ about the French as they show Top 14 matches. They do­ not show the Magners League matches. I know everybody­ is Irish, but it's nice to hear about other nations­ occasionally.

    From Helen, on Wed 11 Feb 10:16AM

  6. I agree, it is uk & ireland!!! so c'mon, more­ on the irish!!!!!

    From donnalblackwell, on Tue 10 Feb 10:14PM

  7. tHIS SITE IS yahoo uk & IRELAND SO LETS HEAR ABOUT­ THE SUPER DESPLAY BY THE URUSH TEAM

    From johnm, on Tue 10 Feb 8:24PM

  8. Why do you people not report on the­ IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From johnm, on Tue 10 Feb 8:22PM

  9. Why don't they just pick the Toulouse XV, it would­ make for fantastic entertainment even tho they are­ playing to well at the mo. It's a shame for­ Malzieu, but he never really got going, there is always­ this weekend tho :-)

    From Helen, on Tue 10 Feb 2:09PM

  10. when will they bring back Clerc and Elissalde?

    From Asdfaf A, on Tue 10 Feb 1:30PM
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