Dusautoir: Takes back captaincy reins
France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has named Thierry Dusautoir as captain for Saturday's Six Nations clash against Wales in Paris.
The 31-year-old Dusautoir - capped 56 times - returns to the captaincy as the man who replaced him as skipper Pascal Pape has been ruled out because of a back injury.
Saint-Andre called up Toulon lock Jocelino Suta as Pape's replacement in the squad, who will be looking to bounce back from their opening 23-18 defeat in Rome by Italy on Sunday.
Wales too started with a defeat, 30-23 at home to Ireland, and will travel to Paris on an eight game losing streak - a far cry from their Six Nations Grand Slam of last season.
France squad: Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Yannick Forestier (Castres), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing-Metro), Luc Ducalcon (Racing-Metro), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Jocelino Suta (Toulon), Romain Taofifenua (Perpignan), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse/capt), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse), Maxime Machenaud (Racing-Metro), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Frederic Michalak (Toulon), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Benjamin Fall (Racing-Metro), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon)
Comments
spoons says...
@ connaughtabu - As a New Zealand supporter it's also an easy choice, QUADE COOPER
Posted 01:40 06th February 2013
PatrickH says...
Dirty players are another bracket which I really dislike. Ones like Botha, Burger, Hartley (again) and Clark for breaking that mans arm. Disgusting.
Posted 23:53 05th February 2013
PatrickH says...
Hmm... As an Irish man I could nearly put a vote in for O'Gara.. His actions in the last minute of the second Lions test in '09 really got to me.. Against this are my feelings of adulation when I think of all the times he's put players through holes with the finest of passes or pinned teams back with the sweetest of kicks and my annoyance subsides..
I think I'd also have to with Umanga / Mealamu. Possibly the greatest rugby disappointment I've experienced. I don't like Ashton or Hartley also. They epitomize arrogance in my view.
Posted 23:52 05th February 2013
LastMan says...
Most hated player is tough...Chris Ashton is up there for more reasons then anyone else. But the title has to go to Neil Back for blatantly cheating against Munster in Heineken Cup Final!!!!! And that blind Linesman...
Posted 23:14 05th February 2013
FatboyGinge says...
Rugby villain for me as an Englishman is still Andre Watson for that shocking referreeing at the scrum in the World Cup Final 2003. He didn't have a clue when it came to the scrum and if I was biased I'd have compared him to the NZ referee who when in charge of an international many years ago (NZ v either wales or the Lions) after awarding a penalty for NZ to kick and win the match said afterwards "I reckon I'd have give 'em another one if they'd needed it"
Posted 16:29 05th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
That spear tackle gutted all us British and Irish fans. Pet hate is arrogant try celebrations. Fun is fine. Dives and dances I don't mind. It's the football arms raised running to the crowd yelling I hate. So any player who does that. Welsh backs in particular but English ones too.
Posted 15:02 05th February 2013
Frooschman says...
@ connaughtabu - Love it! As an Engishman can I submit a vote for Campese. Firstly for the deliberate knock-on in 91 and secondly just for his blatant Campese-ism!
Posted 13:37 05th February 2013
connaughtabu says...
On this page (Dusautoir back at the helm) which is much ado about nothing really, I spotted a link to "Top 5 most hated players". Assuming they were talking about our beloved rugger, I followed the lead - turned out to be American football and other tittle-tattle!
Now if we were talking about international rugby, I wonder who our favourite villains might be?
I'l start off with with my home country:
Ireland: Dead easy - Tana Umanga, ably assisted by Keven Mealamu for the spear tackle to end all spear tackles on blessed Brian O'Driscoll (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsXJyDHFKn0)
So hows about:
England:
Scotland:
Wales:
France:
South Africa:
Argentina:
Australia:
New Zealand:
Samoa:
Tonga:
etc, etc?
Even better if decision can be backed up with a youtube clip!
:-))
Posted 11:51 05th February 2013
Lucasrg says...
I think France need Harinourdequy at the helm. but he's not been selected, at all is he?
Posted 10:43 05th February 2013
1st58 says...
He didnt look anywhere near match fit against Italy
Posted 10:26 05th February 2013
froggy73 says...
So PSA will keep the same backs at the same positions. A 15 (Huget) that is not a full back. A 14 ((Fofana) that is not a winger. Shouldn't it be Wales on Saturday, it would have been another loss for France. And even though I am not confident.
Posted 10:11 05th February 2013
Frooschman says...
Would have thought Michalak was the stand out option.
Posted 08:45 05th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Pure talent. Who are the leaders. Even Thierry is a player captain.
Posted 08:31 05th February 2013
leinster_goy says...
is it just me or are dusatoir and his fellow french back-rowers looking a little fat? some of them look like props. maybe a few too many croissants. anyway, get fit soon
Posted 08:01 05th February 2013