France - 6N Squad

[Lee Grant]

There aren't a lot of surprises in the new squad. 12 are from the ace Toulouse team and Clermont have 7. Six test players who missed out on the RWC were recalled and 2 new players were also included:

Recalled: 1.Vincent Debaty, 6/7 Yannick Nyanga, 10/12/15 Lionel Beauxis, 12/13 Yann David, 11 Julien Malzieu, 15. Clement Poitrenaud.

Beauxis, who had injury problems early in the season and got off to a slow start (and mainly at fullback when I watched him), probably owes his selection to some fine displays at 10 for Toulouse recently after McAlister got the wobbles and was benched. Streaky players Poitrenaud and Malzieu have been in good form in the games I have seen, but coach PSA will have his fingers crossed, or whatever the French do, if they get on the park.

New Players: 4/5 Yoann Maestri, and 12 Wesley Fofana. I don't know if young Fofana of Clermont will get any game time but watch out for him in later years because I think he will be around for a while. He has an outrageous step in the midfield, and can also execute a fast, sweet in and away playing on the wing.

The 8 2011 RWC players not chosen included older guys: 4/5 Lionel Nallet, 11. Cédric Heymans, 10.David Skrela, 12. Patrice Estebanez, 13. David Marty, and utility, Damien Traille. There was no need either for 3rd hooker Guilhem Guirado nor 3rd no.8 Raphael Lakafia. Young 9/10 Jean-Marc Doussain, who replaced Skrela during the RWC, was also omitted, but watch this space when 9. Yachvili's used by date comes along, because JMD, who is essentially a scrummie, can play.

The France squad of 30

Forwards (17): Fabien Barcella (Biarritz), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Luc Ducalcon (Castres), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Toulouse), William Servat (Toulouse), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Romain Millo-Chluski (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (Stade Français), Julien Pierre (Clermont), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont)

Backs (13): Morgan Parra (Clermont), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz), Lionel Beauxis (Toulouse), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Yann David (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan), Aurelien Rougerie (Clermont), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Julien Malzieu (Clermont), Alexis Palisson (Toulon), Maxime Medard (Toulouse), Clement Poitrenaud (Toulouse)

 

[Hiliadan]

What do you think about this team ? I am interested about Australian point of view since I'm French.

 

[Bardon]

Looking forward to seeing Fofana in this years 6Ns. He's been one of the stand out players so far in the HEC.

France as usual have probably the strongest squad in the 6Ns but not necessarily the strongest team. Still as long as their bogey team (England) don't do a number on them I'd expect them to win this years 6Ns.

 

[DPK]

What do you think about this team ? I am interested about Australian point of view since I'm French.

When Yachvili plays his best, the French will be almost scary.

 

[Lee Grant]

Hiliadan

I wouldn't have thought much about this team at all had not France not played so well in the RWC Final - and should have won it if Joubert had refereed the game as he had done earlier in the tournament - and the rest of the year, for that matter.

The big plus is the change of the coach. PSA is a sentient being from the planet earth: something I wondered about with Marc Lièvremont. The other big plus is the discarding of players over 30. One does not blame the old coach for taking mature players to a RWC but it was time for a change.

Nallet and his big engine will be missed even though he is 35 but I am glad that Maestri gets his chance. Without a leader like Nallet though, 2nd row could be a weakness, even if no.8 Harinordoquy is practically a lineout expert and can help out there. There are still some old guys in the front row which is never a bad thing though I have never thought much of prop Poux as a scrummager, even if he can play on both sides.

Apart from scrummaging, hooker Servat and the backrow are the strength of the pack. The Wallabies would kill for one of your no.8s Picamoles or Hainordoquy. Picamoles is in top form for his club and running over people with his low centre of gravity (wide pelvis and tree trunk legs,) but you can't leave out Harinordoquy, nor displace hard bastard yard dog Bonnaire for Hairy Donkey to play on the flank. It will be interesting to see if PSA rotates those three between 6 and 8.

Arguably France has the best pair of scrumhalves in the world in old dog Yachvili and young pup Parra, but this year Parra should get his chance to start in some games when both are fit to play. PSA will be happy that Beauxis played so well at flyhalf for Toulouse recently and kicked a lot of goals including droppies. There aren't a lot of good other 10s in the cupboard, though Wisniewski, a thinking flyhalf, may get a gig some time. FTD is the specialist 10 and will start, but Beauxis could be on the bench to cover 10, 12 and 15.

Since I follow Clermont I am excited to see Fofana selected. Being the new boy he may not get in a 15 or even a 22, but if something happens to Mermoz, a similar player in some ways, I'd like to see him start at 12 in one of the test matches, with old stager Rougerie next to him at 13. I remember Fofana only as a winger last season (we don't get to see every T14 game in Oz), but this season he has been slippery and hard as the inside centre - though just as fast.

Hiliadan - what do you think about the recall of Malzieu, who was out of favour with Lièvremont? (and probably because he can't kick from hand very well.) Also, what about brilliant but flaky Poitrenaud, who still hears the voice of Rob Howley in the middle of the night?


If France can be somewhere near their RWC Final form (a big "if") I think that France will win the 6N this year. With England rebuilding their team, and their mojo on and off the field, Wales and Ireland should be the main challengers, though the Poms have so many professional players to pick from, you never know.
.

 

[spooony]

They can choose a team with well know players and play like crap or sometimes a unknown one that surprises everyone. Its hard to make predictions with their squads as no one knows what French team will pitch up. They can beat any team when their heads are together but more often than not the poor performing team pops up. Interesting to see

 

[qwerty51]

They have the best draw in the tournament and the best squad. Should easily win.

 

[Hiliadan]

Hiliadan - what do you think about the recall of Malzieu, who was out of favour with Lièvremont? (and probably because he can't kick from hand very well.) Also, what about brilliant but flaky Poitrenaud, who still hears the voice of Rob Howley in the middle of the night?

Actually I don't have all the time I would like to follow the French NT. So I mainly don't know these players much as they were not playing the WC. I asked some French friends about what they think, they did not really comment about Poitrenaud but they think Malzieu is a good choice, though France already has some good wingers and backs, like Medard and Clerc.

 

[tranquility]

Who will play flyhalf?

 

[Lee Grant]

Trinh-Duc will start and Beauxis, who can play 10, 12 and 15, will be on the bench.

Beauxis may get a start against Italy.

 

[sudrugby]

I believe Lionel Beauxis will the starting fly half. We need a guy who knows how to kick a ball and Trinh Duc can't.
His problem with injuries was mostly due to his lifestyle when he was in Paris, the kid from the countryside launched in Paris with a lot of money. Now he moved to Toulouse, he is more under control.
I'm quite happy with this team except for Rougerie and Yachvili... I would have prefered Florian Fritz and Julien Dupuy.
But this change will happen soon.
Happy to see some news faces and the return of Lievremont's expelled.

 

[tranquility]

Do you think Wales are the only genuine threat or do you think England are a chance as well? I am thinking about having a flutter on Les Bleus

 

[sudrugby]

To many changes for England... I don't believe in them.
The same with Ireland... all the franchises are doing good in the H Cup but there are too many foreigners at key positions.
It will be between Wales and France... we both have three home games (England, Ireland and Italy for us).
One away game against Scotland and the last round, away game at the Millenium Stadium and the ref will be... Craig Joubert!
This game will be telling who will be the winner.

 

[Lee Grant]

I believe Lionel Beauxis will the starting fly half. We need a guy who knows how to kick a ball and Trinh Duc can't.

I'm quite happy with this team except for Rougerie and Yachvili... I would have prefered Florian Fritz and Julien Dupuy.

You could be right about Beauxis but I just have the feeling that his flyhalf and goal kicking bubble will burst one day at the 6N level and that PSA will think the same. He hasn't played a test since he played here in Sydney in 2009; so I'd look at him from the bench first.

That's a good call on Fritz, he would get into most international teams, but Rougerie is a big match player. I might have preferred Fritz instead of David, but not Rougerie, though that could be my Clermont bias.

I suppose Yachvilli is there because PSA wants a bit of solidity in the coaching transition. Dupuy can be brilliant but flaky, and Doussain is very young. Perhaps veteran Yachvilli will be overlooked for the summer tour. In that case I would bring in Doussain ahead of Dupuy - or maybe play both to give Parra a complete break.

 

[SuperGrover]

How far away from a recall is centre Mathieu Bastareaud?

He was an integral part of France's 2010 Grand Slam and has been conspicuous by his absence since.

I know he's had his problems with weight, attitude, saying the wrong things to the press and the infamous New Zealand 'mugging', but I'd hoped that time and the move to Toulon would see a return of the centre who outplayed O'Driscoll in the 2010 six nations.

Can anyone enlighten me.

 

[Lee Grant]

It's like Stars Wars - he's in a galaxy far, far away. He has about 6 centres in front of him counting 12s and 13s (he plays in both positions for Toulon) and that is probably understating the case.

The first thing he has to do is to get rid of 10kgs. He would be a fine player then. He is surprising deft with his hands and knows how to make a tackle; so it's a pity that his lateral movement both on attack and defence is compromised.

 

[SuperGrover]

Thanks Lee.

Sad to hear.. at least he still has youth on his side.

I'll live in hope that he eventually makes use of his formidable talent.

 

[sudrugby]

Mathieu Bastareaud is just big... But he is brainless... just run straight and use his weight to get over the opponent.
There are plenty of 13 above him for the moment like Yann David, Florian Fritz, Aurélien Rougerie or Henry Chavancy

 

[the plastic paddy]

To many changes for England... I don't believe in them.
The same with Ireland... all the franchises are doing good in the H Cup but there are too many foreigners at key positions.
It will be between Wales and France... we both have three home games (England, Ireland and Italy for us).
One away game against Scotland and the last round, away game at the Millenium Stadium and the ref will be... Craig Joubert!
This game will be telling who will be the winner.

Think France are clear favourites and only a fool would back Ireland to win in Paris , something we have only done once in 40 years but I think the Welsh will struggle, They look very flat in league and H cup. Not sure about the foreigners in key positions comment the only position where Ireland don't have depth is Tight head. Everyone seems to be thinking Ulsters good form is down to the saffers and Afoa but the best players in their demolition of Leicester last friday were Court, Tuohy, Henry and Ferris. Admittedly, the first two were born in Aussie but they are Irish qualified and play in key positions. I am confident Ireland will win four games, but France in Paris is always tough; maybe if Ulster get a result in clermont on saturday it will inspire the Irish team to win the Grand Slam.

 

[spooony]

So no one give Wales a chance?