Rugby:France coach Marc Lievremont has honoured his intention of giving every fit player an opportunity to try and nail down a place in the World Cup squad by making 13 alterations to the side that beat Ireland 19-12 in Bordeaux for Saturday's return fixture at the Aviva stadium.
The only survivors are left wing Alexis Palisson and hooker Dimitri Szarzewski. Cedric Heymans is named at fullback with Mamixe Medard on the right wing and a centre combination of Aurelien Rougerie and Fabrice Estebanez. It will be Rougerie’s first match since fracturing his ankle while playing for Clermont Auvergne in the French Top 14 Championship.
There is a new halfback combination in David Skrela, who will take over the place-kicking duties from Dimitri Yachvili, and Morgan Parra. Jean Baptiste Poux had a huge impact, literally on the Irish scrum when he came on the last day and he forms part of a front row that will be very strong in the set piece alongside Szarzewski and Perpignan captain Nicolas Mas.
Lionel Nallet captains the team in the absence of Thierry Dusautoir, while a new backrow includes Fulgence Quegraogo, Julien Bonnaire and Louis Picamoles. Lievremont has named eight replacements primarily to establish if Biarritz prop Fabien Barcella – he has not played a competitive match in a year and his latest setback was a torn bicep – is fit enough.
If he fails to prove that then Castres' Luc Ducalcon, who started against Ireland in Bordeaux will join the replacements. Ireland coach Declan Kidney will name his team for the match tomorrow along with another Irish XV that will take on Connacht in Donnybrook on Thursday night.
France:C Heymans; M Medard, A Rougerie, F Estebanez, A Palisson; D Skrela, M Parra; JB Poux, D Szarzewski, N Mas; P Pape, L Nallet (capt); F Quedraogo, J Bonaire, L Picamoles. Replacements: G Guirado, F Barcella, J Pierre, R Lafika, D Yachvili, F Trinh Duc, V Clerc, L Ducalcon.
