Bastareaud: Keeps France place
Toulon centre Mathieu Bastareaud has made the second cut for a place in France's squad for this year's Six Nations.
Bastareaud, recalled after a near three-year absence, took one step closer to a Test return after coach Philippe Saint-Andre trimmed his initial 33-strong group to an official squad of 24 for Sunday's opener against Italy.
Flanker Thierry Dusautoir and prop Luc Ducalcon were also retained in a group which will ultimately be cut further down to 23 on Wednesday after Saint-Andre works out his options on the fitness of his loose forwards.
Saint-Andre will unveil his starting line-up on Friday.
Bastareaud is in superlative form with Top 14 leaders Toulon, who also topped their Heineken Cup pool to reach the quarter-finals, and is seemingly a reformed character since his move from Stade Francais.
His fall from grace there had been remarkable after he had been considered one of the brightest prospects both at club and international level.
Humiliatingly, he had to admit he lied over a late-night incident on the 2009 tour of New Zealand where he claimed he sustained facial injuries after being assaulted on his way back to the team hotel.
It turned out he had fallen over a table in his room having returned in a drunken state.
Bastareaud nevertheless played a full role in the 2010 Six Nations Grand Slam campaign, starting all five games, but since then he has failed to add to his nine caps amid poor form and weight problems.
But now he is back in favour and ready to seize a new chance to shine.
Dusautoir, IRB player of the year in 2011, has not worn the blue shirt since the last Six Nations in which the French came a desultory fourth.
He was left off the subsequent tour of Argentina and then missed out in the November Tests owing to a knee injury. But now the Toulouse forward is likely to claim a starting berth with Montpellier's Fulgence Ouedraogo nursing an ankle injury.
Racing Metro's Ducalcon last featured at the 2011 World Cup but also makes the squad, while Saint-Andre has given a vote of confidence to 22-year-old second row Romain Taofifenua, who has just one cap to date.
France squad:
Forwards: Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Yannick Forestier (Castres), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing-Metro), Luc Ducalcon (Racing-Metro), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (Stade Francais, capt), Romain Taofifenua (Perpignan), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)
Backs: Maxime Machenaud (Racing-Metro), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Frederic Michalak (Toulon), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Benjamin Fall (Racing-Metro), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon)
Comments
Spartacus says...
If PSA insists on playing Fofana out of position, then why not put him at 10 where he can get his hands on the ball more?
I would not be surprised if PSA picked Bastareuaud at Full Back, and Parra at prop.
Posted 12:51 29th January 2013
Exlondonfrog says...
My perception of rugby has taken a blow! No back, 2 wingers 4 centres no domingo or buttin. Butwait and see like our british euroseptic neighbours say!
Posted 12:03 29th January 2013
Exlondonfrog says...
Psa killed my perception of rugby! 4 centres
2 wingers, no full back, no domingo and buttin.
But wait and see like our british euroseptics neighbours say.
Posted 12:00 29th January 2013
chancer says...
Once again players very likely to be selected out of position from where they play for club. Not a clever move but there are exceptions, Freddie can play 9 or 10, wingers should be able to cope with full back otherwise it shows that there defensive duties as a wing are suspect.
That apart, away fixtures may prevent France from winning grand slam but I have every confidence they will come top of the table!!!
Posted 11:38 29th January 2013
Toulousain says...
agree with you both, it looks like fofana will be on the wing again with huget at 15 and t-duc to cover 10 and 15 from the bench. bastargos to come on after 60 minutes to run at tired defenders!
Posted 10:33 29th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Bastareud vs Tuilagi. It is scripted in the stars. It shall be.
Posted 10:30 29th January 2013
ironmanI441 says...
I would love to see Bastareaud back into the line up. He has been crushing defences for Toulon and is back in shape and seems focused. I feel it is a shame though that the injuries have forced a re-jig of the lineup. I know Mermoz and Fritz played well together in the Autumn, but how devastating could Fofana/Bastareaud be as a centre partnership. Sadly though injuries have pushed Fofana out wide so it looks like Hughet will move to 15 and I wonder if Fall moves to the other wing and if he doesn't what other centre has to move around? Fritz?
Posted 09:39 29th January 2013
froggy73 says...
Awwww, PSA what are you doing ?? This is definitely a diy team
- No Domingo (Forestier instead)
- No 15 ??? Then being short of winger, he will put Huget (a winger) at 15. Then really, would have made more sense to take Buttin in the squad.
- Short on winger, then he puts Fofana on a wing. One of our best players at center playing as a winger where he is unconvincing and unconvinced.
I'm gutted to say the least.
Posted 08:07 29th January 2013