France

mlbp says...

@Kiwirooster

I have always wondered why Beauxis is not playing for France more often. He's outstanding when kicking and has the tactical nous this team needs.

Parra is not as consistent as other scrumhalves, but last year he played really well in most of his games during the 6N.

Jauzion has always been my favourite 12, but I have not seen him this year so I don't know about his form of late. If I could choose, I would go for Parra or Dupuy and Beauxis as the axis pair.

I never liked Skrela much, he's always had a tendency to crack under pressure. He may be physical and his kicking is good, but he makes some blunders that are really costly (like fumbling the ball at the most untimely moments of the match, for example when you are trying to come back and win a game that looked lost and could have been won, as two years ago against Ireland or England, I can't remember).

The centres are a cause for concern, too, as they lack creativity, unless Mermoz is back to his form of late. It's strange Fritz hasn't been called up (instead of Marty, who is a good defender but whose hands are slow and poor at times), and two of my favourite players, Yann David and Benoit Baby, are apparently too prone to injuries to be considered for selection (maybe they are injured now).

I don't understand why Malzieu is not in the squad (he's really fast, strong and intelligent as a player).

Picamoles would be on my list instead of Chabal.

France are spoilt for riches in most positions, they have the biggest pool of first-class players to choose from (mostly for the back three). Or maybe Lièvremont with all his tinkering has made us think that all those players he's tried so far are worth wearing the French jersey.

Posted 22:24 20th January 2011

mlbp says...

If I had to choose from those players my starting lineup would be: Domingo-Servat-Mas; Nallet-Pierre; Dusatoir-Bonnaire-Harinordoquy; Parra-Trinh-Duc; Medard-Jauzion-Mermoz-Clerc; Poitrenaud. I wonder how Jauzion and Mermoz will mix, as the position of 13 may be the weakest in the team. I would even play with Traille in the centre, I prefer him to Marty (he was never my cup of tea), and I have not seen Rougerie or Poitrenaud in that position. The rest of the team is world class (on a good day and with the right tactics; let's not remember the Australia game...). Apparently Lièvremont wants to play Poitrenaud in the position of outside centre. If he does that, maybe Medard would be the fullback. I don't like Palisson so much. I wonder whatever happened to unlucky Benjamin Fall (he looked full of promise last year in the Tournament until he got injured). If they focus and play to their strengths, France are unbeatable in the Northern Hemisphere. I can't see England with so many injured players being a threat to France, or Ireland, on the wane, but I suppose this is not the last France squad; there are always injuries before the start of the tournament. The pool of players to choose from for France is the most extensive in Europe.

Posted 22:11 19th January 2011

Danatthecorner says...

It beggars belief that they left Lievremont in charge after the Autumn. No Julien Malzieu?!? The man is a better winger than Huget and Rougerie, a better centre than Rougerie and probably Poitrenaud, his omission is absolute madness.

Posted 19:30 19th January 2011

ricomic says...

Still don't understand how Lievremont can leave out both Picamoles and Fritz...

Malzieu or Andreu are far ahead of Huget in terms of efficiency and experience; an other enigma here.

Posted 13:20 19th January 2011

ogonda says...

Poor selection by Marc Lièvremont. Whilst certain selected players deserve their place, I cannot see France winning the Six Nations and World Cup without Louis Picamoles, Mathieu Bastareaud, Julien Dupuy and Florin Fritz in the first fifteen. Watch the space and I will be vindicated.

Posted 12:46 19th January 2011