The headline news this morning is that Sebastian Chabal has been moved to the back row in the team to face England on Sunday.
Marc Lievremont has made a few changes yet again, but there does seem to be a specialist in each position (except perhaps Chabal at 7). The thought of Mathieu Bastareaud mowing down Toby Flood is both frightening and slightly amusing at the same time.
What do you think? Is this team good enough to beat England?!
France: Maxime Medard (Toulouse); Julien Malzieu (Clermont-Auvergne), Mathieu Bastareaud (Stade Francais), Yannick Jauzion, Cedric Heymans (both Toulouse); Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Morgan Parra (Bourgoin); Lionel Faure (Sale), Dimitri Szarzewski, Sylvain Marconnet (both Stade Francais), Lionel Nallet (Castres, capt), Jerome Thion (Biarritz), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Sebastien Chabal (Sale), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz).
Replacements: Benjamin Kayser (Leicester), Thomas Domingo (Clermont-Auvergne), Louis Picamoles (Montpellier), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont-Auvergne), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Castres), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Damien Traille (Biarritz).
This looks like a very good French side, this could end up being a really hard game all round. I can only see this being a very close game, under 7 points difference at the whistle. I still have a feeling England will snick this one.
Trust the French to go and pick a proper side for the England game! If France retain the enthusiasm they showed in the Welsh game then it could be a long Sunday afternoon for England. I think on paper they are the better team. But then again, you never know with Les Bleus.
That is an excellent looking French side, i think the back-row is better balanced with Chabal in there for Ouedrago although Dusatoir will probably do all the 7 work and Chabal will be the primary ball carrier to free up Harinordoquy to do whatever he feels like doing.
I just hope England throw caution to the wind (as they’ve little left to play for anyway) and pick an exciting team who might try to run the ball with purpose!! Why do i care anymore, i’m bound to be disappointed?!
Aaaaaaagh! I’ve just seen who’s been released back to their clubs – Cipriani, Foden, Narraway, Morgan! – we are going to play EXACTLY the same failing game plan! I hope France play majestically and stuff us. I honestly do.
Fakey, my heart is ruling my head, I’m Welsh!
paynie -to interpret for you your heart says England because you know an English win will knock France out of the title race , just thought I’d interject before you risk your membership in the Cymric brotherhood , maybe head may say France should do it but their due an adverse reaction now to their last game.