David starts for France
Marc Lievremont has selected powerful centre Yann David in his team to play the Springboks in Toulouse on Friday.
In an obvious ploy to attempt to expose Adi Jacobs’ frail midfield defence, Lievremont has opted for the 105kg 21-year-old ahead of David Marty and out-of-form Yannick Jauzion.
‘We wanted more strength and explosiveness to start in the midfield,’ said Lievremont. ‘We wanted robustness and looked at the weaknesses of South Africa. That’s why we chose Yann.’
‘The key word is the advantage line,’ said backs coach Emile N’Tamack. ‘It’s a fight we don’t want to lose, that’s why we’ve gone for the beefier option.’
David has started just one Test, against Italy last year, and will line-up alongside Toulouse team-mates Cedric Heymans and Vincent Clerc. Damien Traille has been selected at fullback for his kicking game, while Julien Dupuy and Francois Trinh-Duc are the halfbacks. Dupuy will take the kicks at goal.
Louis Picamoles is selected at No 8 ahead of Julien Bonnaire, while Nicolas Mas was chosen at tighthead instead of Sylvain Marconnet.
The side includes 10 of the starting XV that beat New Zealand in Dunedin in June, and comprises strong forward reserves in Dimitri Szarzewski, Marconnet and Sebastien Chabal. Frederic Michalak was called up to the greater squad but can’t find a place in the 22.
France – 15 Damien Traille, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Yann David, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Cedric Heymans, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Imanol Harinordoquy, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Romain Millo-Chluski, 4 Lionel Nallet, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 3 Fabien Barcella.
Subs: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Sylvain Marconnet, 18 Sebastien Chabal, 19 Julien Bonnaire, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 David Marty, 22 Maxime Médard.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
#46 WP_: The same happened to the World’s Greatest 13..but nothing said
November 9th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Charlie
When did that happen? other than in your imagination?
November 9th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
LISTEN TO ME PEOPLE.
I was korrek for Rose and Johnson so I shall be right on these prediction.
1.) This France team can beat us .
2.) They will beat us by 8.
3.) Earl Rose is our only chance at glory. Hes style is what for France we need fast and using skills that no one has.
4.) We pick Earl – We win . Yes .
5.) Brussow must look after Dusatoir and Danie has to smash Hardinodoquy.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
#52 WP_: Bro it’s time to get rid of that 37cm T.V & get a 50″ Plasma otherwise your going to miss a lot…
November 9th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
#53 rugbygenius: I take it you are using the word genius ironically.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
#55 stormer in a teacup: No its serious. I am right 84.5% of the time sir. And when France win because of bad selections (like leaving out Rose, Rossouw etc) you will see that Rugbygenius is right.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
#56 rugbygenius: Betting on Rose is like betting on the number 7 on the roulette table. When you win you can clean up, but you will lose too often to make it worth your while.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
#57 stormer in a teacup: But this is France Sir . Structured game like against England is not the way they play. Rose can thrive here and do the damage. Agains Ireland he can rest but he MUST play France.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Charlie
My plasma is probably bigger than yours mate so I wouldnt talk mate.
As I suspected, it was in your imagination!
November 9th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
WP_
My last comment is awaiting moderation as it contained a link to another site. Sorry of it is duplicated but here goes.
According to scrums website Adi missed no tackles (made 7)during the first test and jaque missed one even though he was on the field for a shorter time period.
go to scrum dot com . look for the lions tour and look for the match details.
The second test Adi missed 1 out of 4 and Jaque made the 1 tackle he attempted.
The third test Fourie missed none but Olivier missed 2 of 8 he attempted.
So does this prove that you have your facts wrong about Adi’s tackling abilities? Or do you just believe whatever charachter assasination keo and his ilk dish up without basing it on facts.
The stats thus proves that Wynand was a poorer tackler than Adi but you dont blast Wynand for the same thing.
November 9th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I dont think that whatever site that is, counts it as a missed tackle if the person doesnt even lay a hand on their opponent. Which is what Adi did on a few occassions.
If it says that Adi didnt miss any tackles in the first test them I cant accept that source as I credible one as it disagrees with what I say with my own eyes!
November 9th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
dont think adi has anything to worry bout ,jamie roberts destoryed us in the first test but what happnened in the second when he had schalk burger on his case ,he became quiet as a mouse
November 9th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
#60 moedeloos: Adi is a brilliant 13. But Fourie is better.
Adi has evolved into a solid 13 and in the process shed some of that nimble-footed instinct he had, that is why Mesiekind is a better option at 12 (in the absence of JdV).
November 9th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
#62 mbaxman93:
so what you re saying is that adi doesn’t have anyhing to worry about as long as burger is playing?
November 9th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
PDV ius going to be silly, and will play ADI at 12.. How sill is that??
November 9th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
This is a good French team. I see an upset. I love teh Boks but these selections are not clever..
November 9th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
France to lose in Toulouse!
November 10th, 2009 at 1:15 am
The real danger man in that team is Louis Picamoles… he is an absolute monster. He almost allways beats the first tackler and is an excellent offloader. I’ve seen him beat 5 defenders in a row. Francois Trinh-Duc is another, he is outrageously talented and deceptively strong.
November 10th, 2009 at 5:23 am
Don’t be too worried by this French team. They’ve been together less than a week and have not played together since mid-June. In the meantime the boks have played 8 test matchs and have spent much more time than the French. These latter will be better when they play the ABs in Marseilles two weeks later.
If the Boks stick to their gameplan and that’s what they have done almost all the season they will defeat comprehensively this talented French side.
November 10th, 2009 at 6:11 am
“Our sport is changing but the fundamentals are the same. A rugby game, and particularly a game against the Springboks, is above all a fight between two packs of forwards.”
Awesome statement by Imanol Harinordoquy, in the French side to play the Boks on Friday.
November 10th, 2009 at 6:13 am
Asked if he agreed with Lucien Mias, captain of the first France team to win a Test in South Africa in 1958 who said that “in a sport of sacrifice, the Springboks have decided once and for all to be the butcher rather than the lamb”, he answered:
“Yes, you could say they are butchers but I can assure you we are not going to be the lambs on Friday.”
November 10th, 2009 at 8:37 am
#59 WP_: Oh I did’nt know that you need a big plasma if you have a lack of imagination to improve it