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.



72 Comments

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  • 1.henno: Reply to this comment

    oh, and some more french dragons…

  • 2.grant10: Reply to this comment

    BH…YOUR PERSPECTIVES BOET?

  • 3.puff: Reply to this comment

    No Jauzion?
    And who will cover flyhalf?
    Otherwise, this is one formidable team.

  • 4.die denker: Reply to this comment

    i’m glad adi is playing. it is the only way to prove to peter div that he is not a 12.

  • 5.die denker: Reply to this comment

    god help us all if adi has a good game though…

  • 6.Oubaas2009: Reply to this comment

    6 caps between their centres and a centre playing fullback! JF to calve them up all afternoon if our pack gets some go forward ball.

  • 7.WP_: Reply to this comment

    Adi is going to be put on his backside all night by this guy.

    Adi will not have a good game on friday, he’s been poor all season and has done little to prove he is worthy of a spot in the team. If he starts, which he surely will in div’s bizarre world, then he will be in for a long evening.

  • 8.Oubaas2009: Reply to this comment

    Go get me a beer. I want to see Adi dominate David.

  • 9.Mutant: Reply to this comment

    David is playing 13…Adi is 12. JF is the man in the firing line here, and I’ve got confidence he’ll stand up well to the test that this big youngster brings.

  • 10.Sidewinder: Reply to this comment

    #4 die denker: I’m right with you on this one. It seems that some lessons have to be learnt the hard way – especially if PdV is the coach.

  • 11.Big Hit: Reply to this comment

    #2 grant10: Adi in trouble :) even Wilkinson had trouble stopping this guy. Backrow is awesome but Bok front five is better in tight/loose and lineouts.

  • 12.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment

    No JDV to defend hard and give JF ball… no Frans Steyn at 15… night night!

  • 13.WP_: Reply to this comment

    Whether he’s a 13 doesnt matter, if he’s clever he’ll run in and attack Adi’s channel

  • 14.AndrewBK: Reply to this comment

    whatever, Adi is going to belly-bounce this guy into touch all night long.

  • 15.Big Hit: Reply to this comment

    #14 AndrewBK: in fairness Adi has taken on Roberts and Nonu, he can’t be that bad a defender

  • 16.Mutant: Reply to this comment

    #13 WP_: A bit harder when he’s running back tpwards Adi, and the rest of our pack cover tackling…

  • 17.AndrewBK: Reply to this comment

    #15 Big Hit: i guess the only thing we will be missing is that Adi won’t be knocking them backwards, but it’s not like he’s tissue paper or anything.

  • 18.Big Hit: Reply to this comment

    France have left their power players on the bench,

    16-Dimitri Szarzewski, 17-Sylvain Marconnet, 18-Sebastien Chabal, 19-Julien Bonnaire

    will they bring them on at 60 minutes when the Bok players tire?

    SA need to build a lead in the first hour which will last the 80, get kicking M.Steyn.

  • 19.Mutant: Reply to this comment

    #17 AndrewBK: He’ll be dancing around them. I doubt a 105kg centre is the most nimble person in the backline.

  • 20.Mutant: Reply to this comment

    #19 Mutant: On attack I mean.

  • 21.Charlie: Reply to this comment

    Hehehe…when Adi Jacobs misses a tackle it’s a tragedy…when any other player miss one it a communication error… :roll:

  • 22.Sonito: Reply to this comment

    Strong team this. Selected a big strong fullback. Good bench for the last 20 min. Strong Centers.They have done there homework on the boks. Gonna be a tough night.

  • 23.AndrewBK: Reply to this comment

    #20 Mutant: lol

  • 24.Charlie: Reply to this comment

    #15 Big Hit: And they were not even his direct opponent… :wink:

  • 25.AndrewBK: Reply to this comment

    i don’t mean to throw a spanner in the works, but is it 100% certain that Adi will be starting at 12 this weekend? or is this another “open secret.”

  • 26.Charlie: Reply to this comment

    #25 AndrewBK: Like his defence is a “myth”…The Keo clan can answer that for you, they have a reliable source in the Bok camp :mrgreen:

  • 27.Sonito: Reply to this comment

    This is going to be the toughest game of the year for the boks.

  • 28.Richie_7: Reply to this comment

    #19 Mutant: You only dance until you get hit the first time. After that you dance to another tune

  • 29.pietskeade: Reply to this comment

    This is a strong team. Boks’ biggest test on this tour by some distance. IMO the Boks’ biggest test this year.

  • 30.Cheetha Champs: Reply to this comment

    If this oke is playing outside center – he is Adi’s man to mark. Remember – scrummie marks flyhalf, 10 marks 12 etc etc….

    Adi will be fine. Remember, on the drift defense, you seldom if ever get one on ones….

    I think their backline is ok (average). Monster pack though. If we win – it has to be because Beast, Bizzie and Smit have a monster.

  • 31.Cheetha Champs: Reply to this comment

    Does anyone know who is reffing the game?? I hope it is Craig Joubert :lol:

  • 32.Big Hit: Reply to this comment

    #31 Cheetha Champs: Barnesy

  • 33.David: Reply to this comment

    #25 AndrewBK:
    As he’s in the 15 man starting squad that’s only leaving on Tuesday, it’s a good bet.

  • 34.David: Reply to this comment

    #32 Big Hit:
    Damn, I suppose he’ll get another call from Gordon Brown to remind him that France is a Euro partner. :lol:

  • 35.scar: Reply to this comment

    #34 David: If its Brown, he’ll probably get the wrong guy at the end of the line!

  • 36.katman: Reply to this comment

    Adi will be fine. He and Fourie will be solid when defending and should pose a huge number of questions on attack. I’m very happy with this midfield and will settle for either Olivier or De Jongh on the bench.

  • 37.WP_: Reply to this comment

    #16 Mutant: true that.

    #18 Big Hit: Medard is on the bench, he could be dangerous coming on when we are tired.

    That’s if we do tire… ;)

  • 38.Mustard: Reply to this comment

    One thing i can say about Adi is that he always playd hes best rugga when everyone has written him off….like now, so im hoping he has a good game friday. But its obvious why theyl attack hes channel, not having a good season thus far

  • 39.WakaNathan: Reply to this comment

    Very conservative lineup from Leivremont, he seems to finally be narrowing down what style he wants to play. The backs are all of the stronger-heavier variety at 10, 12, 13, and less of the twinkletoes with only the pace and superb lines of both wingers to add any real Gallic flair. Clearly also persuaded by S.T. combinations playing on home turf. Not sure about Dupuy, he can be flaky, but Elissade loses out with S.T. selecting him at 10 just to accomodate Kelleher at 9.

    Add Traille at FB instead of the more mesmeric Medard and its clear France will be planning to beef-up to the Boks and punch on the counterattack. Which is really matching the Boks own tactics.

    France have a superb bench, real flair options in Szarzewski, Chabal, Parra and Médard.

    Gonna be SOME match, cant wait.

  • 40.Brigadier Van Zyl: Reply to this comment

    what sort of name is Yann anyway?
    The frogs importing Chinamen these days?

  • 41.Mutant: Reply to this comment

    #40 Brigadier Van Zyl: Hy’s die soul vannie span, kom man.
    No, actually been French since Jan has been Dutch. If anything the Chinese have imported the name.

  • 42.AndrewBK: Reply to this comment

    #40 Brigadier Van Zyl: wow, racist much?

  • 43.wpw: Reply to this comment

    There’s nothing wrong with Adi’s defence!!

    He proved it against the top sides in the world!!

  • 44.WP_: Reply to this comment

    #43 wpw: Like the Lions hey?

    Naat…

  • 45.wpw: Reply to this comment

    #44 WP_:

    If you didn’t watch the game then rather don’t comment.

    Poephol!!!

  • 46.WP_: Reply to this comment

    #45 wpw: Who are you calling a poephol?

    Answer the question dimwit…

    He was ripped to shreads against the Lions. Jamie Roberts breezed past him like he wasnt even there.

    And if you want to look to more recent events., go watch the highlights of the Sharks-Cheetahs semi, for Potgieter’s try the person who MISSES the tackle after JLP has picked up the ball is none other than Adi Jacobs. Shocking defender.

    Was half decent last year, but poor this year.

  • 47.Brigadier Van Zyl: Reply to this comment

    #42 AndrewBK:

    does, or does not….”Yann”, sound chinese?

    or, is it that I called the French…”frogs?”

    none really know what you mean, certainly not me.

    second guess much?

  • 48.puff: Reply to this comment

    Chabal on when Bakkies comes off.
    What a pity.
    Would love to see them going at each other.

  • 49.WakaNathan: Reply to this comment

    #47 Brigadier Van Zyl:

    Dont start on poor Monsieur Yann, how do you think young Szarzewski’s family are feeling back home in their French colony….?

  • 50.Brigadier Van Zyl: Reply to this comment

    #49 WakaNathan:

    Yeah, for all we know he could have Aussie heritage?
    :lol;

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