Rugby:France half backs Francois Trinh-Duc and Morgan Parra have been dropped for the Six Nations clash against England in Paris on Sunday. Both players have paid the price for an erratic team display during last weekend's 17-17 draw at home to Ireland, a result that cost Les Bleus any chance of the Grand Slam.
Coach Philippe Saint-Andre has handed former Leicester scrum-half Julien Dupuy the number nine shirt, with Toulouse’s Lionel Beauxis featuring at outhalf. Saint-Andre has otherwise retained the side on duty against Ireland, including centre Aurelien Rougerie, who had been widely expected to be left out after an error-strewn display against Ireland.
Victory for France over England would keep them in the Six Nations title hunt ahead of facing Grand Slam-chasing Wales in Cardiff on Saturday week.
France:C Poitrenaud (Toulouse); V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), W Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne); L Beauxis (Toulouse), J Dupuy (Stade Francais); J-B Poux (Toulouse), D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), N Mas (Perpignan), P Pape (Stade Francais), Y Maestri (Toulouse), T Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz). Replacements:W Servat (Toulouse), V Debaty (Clermont Auvergne), L Nallet (Racing Metro), L Picamoles (Toulouse), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), M Mermoz (Perpignan).
