Marc Lievremont, the French rugby coach made 7 changes to the team which started against Samoa, to face the All Blacks.
Considering that France changed 13 players against Samoa from the team which beat the Springboks, it means that there are still 6 or 7 differnt players who will be playing the All Blacks than the team who beat the Springboks.
Damien Traille was given the starting job at fullback today. The return of the veteran Biarritz player is one of seven changes, one positional made by coach Marc Lievremont from the side that defeated Samoa 45 / 3 in Paris last Saturday.
Trialle replaces Maxime Medard, who was outstanding against the South Pacific Islanders and who gets the nod on the wing in a backline that includes two other Toulouse players in record try scorer Vincent Clerc and the powerful Yannick Jauzion.
At scrumhalf, Francois Trinh-Duc of Montpellier gets the nod for the third straight game and renews his partnership with Julien Dupuy of Stade Francais.
In the pack, William Servat comes in at hooker for Dimitri Szarzewski, while Fabien Barcella, who starred in the 20 / 130 win over world champions South Africa in the first of four November Tests, returns at prop.
Sebastien Chabal, who had a storming game against Samoa, is retained and preferred at lock and will be partnered by Romain Millo-Chluski of Toulouse.
Amongst the loose forwards, Fulgence Ouedrago returns from injury and will play with No 8 Julien Bonnaire and the captain, Thierry Dusautoir.
France:
Damien Traille (Biarritz), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), David Marty (Perpignan), Yannick Jauzion (Toulouse), Maxime Medard (Toulouse), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Julien Dupuy (Stade Français), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, captain), Romain Millo-Chluski (Toulouse), Sebastien Chabal (Racing-Metro), Sylvain Marconnet (Perpignan), William Servat (Toulouse), Fabien Barcella (Biarritz).
Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Lionel Nallet (Racing-Metro), Julien Puricelli (Bayonne), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Yann David (Toulouse), Cedric Heymans (Toulouse), Thomas Domingo (Clermont).
Toad Sucking Janne
The French will beat the All Kacks this weekend.
They are MUCH stronger than we give them credit for at the moment, and the Kiwi’s are in a worse position than we all realise.
Vincent Clerc, Damien Traille and Maxime Medrad are 3 of THE BEST backs in the world at the moment. Seriously, I would play them in any team.
In Fact…
World XV backline… mmmm, this will be good.
Maxime Medrad (France)- yes, ahead of Frans Steyn.
Vincent Clerc (France)
Brian O’Driscol (Ireland)
Jean de Villliers (SA)
Bryan Habana (SA)
Dan Carter (NZ)
Fourie du Preez (SA)
Ok, looks like we still win… as always.
AFrench win would be nice.
The frenchies could definately take this one. The AB’s are ripe for the picking.
Loosehead & Snoek
Just step away from my ABs & no one has to get hurt 😉
6 – RP 😆
What’s your honest take on this game? The Frenchies did win a game in NZ this year.
Snoek
I dont know … I think it will be a passionately played game for sure. The ABs have a lot riding on this game :
* Pay back is due Les Grenouilles for beating the ABs in Dunedin
* No NH team on an EOYT has crossed the ABs line since 2006
* Beating Les Bleus convincingly secures the ABs the #1 spot for Christmas
* ABs would like to finnish well after a poor start to 2009
* Marsaille has painful memories for ABs – just ask Buck Shelford
The trouble with Les Grenouilles is that you never know which team (emotionally speaking) is going to pitch up. I suspect this makes it awfully difficult to pick & train a team – when the opposition is essentially an unknown quantity. 🙁
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