Called up: Sébastien Vahaamahina
France have called up Toulouse back Maxime Médard and Perpignan lock Sébastien Vahaamahina into their squad for next week's Six Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin.
Médard replaces Racing Metro wing Benjamin Fall while 21-year-old Vahaamahina, who won one cap off the bench against Australia in November, comes in for Toulon's Jocelino Suta.
"We've made two changes as we prepare for our final two games on the basis of our match against the English," said head coach Philippe Saint André.
"Our squad functioned better at Twickenham. We need to build on that progress. With a lot of youngsters still learning at the highest level, this continuity is important.
"We watched all the French Championship fixtures from this weekend and reviewed our match. Maxime Médard has shown that he is back to his best level after his injury and will bring us his skills and experience.
"As for Sébastien Vahaamahina, he participated in the November Tests with the French national side. At the moment he is performing very well with his club. He has a lot of room for progress which is good for the French team.
"They are players that we've been following for a long time in view of the 2015 World Cup and it's good that they reintegrate into the group so they can work with the squad and get game time."
France squad:
Forwards (13): Vincent Debaty, Thomas Domingo, Benjamin Kayser, Dimitri Szarzewski, Luc Ducalcon, Nicolas Mas, Yoann Maestri, Christophe Samson, Yannick Nyanga, Thierry Dusautoir, Antonie Claassen, Louis Picamoles, Sébastien Vahaamahina.
Backs (10): Maxime Machenaud, Morgan Parra, Frédéric Michalak, François Trinh-Duc, Mathieu Bastareaud, Wesley Fofana, Florian Fritz, Yoann Huget, Vincent Clerc, Maxime Médard.
Comments
gozar2013 says...
Have to agree with you guys ie Melkdeve, Rosbif and axax. Saint Andre is taking baby steps, but not enough really. Setu was unlucky but good to see Vaahamina get a another go he looks the goods. Also have to agree about Szarsewski, why are they continually picking him for, he is past it now. Kayser has been reasonable, but the need to look at bringing in one of they young hookers. Guirado is good but has never been given the opportunity, while you also have Oriolo and Tolofua he might still be a bit young, but will be a class player.
I also like the look of Fickou in the centres. Basteraud is to one dimensional and really doesnt offer France that much in attack. I think Debaty should go as well and bring in another prop ala Arous, or Guillamon. Some also mentioned Chaume dont know much about him, but if hes good give him a chance.
Michalak is also past his best and they could bring in Plisson or Lopez. Saint Andre has choices and his excuse of their being to many foreigners in the top 14 which there may be, is just him hiding behind his own imcompetence. The reason France have lost all these games is because of his stupid selections.
Posted 01:08 27th February 2013
Iyhel says...
I wouldn't call Szarzewski old - he's only turning 30! That said, one may have highs and lows, he's clearly not in form right now so clearly Tolofua and Guirado should get to play ahead of him. He was on top a few years ago, then Servat came back very strong from injury and Szar has never quite found his top level again since then. Let him go back to work.
I'll agree on dropping Michalak when a pair of Parra and him will have failed. But I'm not sure I'll ever see this...
Based on the match at Twickers, we should beat Scotland and Ireland but I'm afraid the only sure thing in which we don't lack imagination is in butchering opportunities so... qui vivra verra !
Posted 21:46 26th February 2013
melkdave says...
Well i can understand Medard comming into the squad ,he is /can play FB to international standard..But like @Axax and@Rosbif i would perfer PSA to be taking more than baby steps .I also think Suta is a tad unlucky ,hei mo hasnt done badly so far.,and conversely Szarzewski has to consider himself very lucky,he just isnt international class by a long way .Would much perfer Guirando,and O'Connor for Clerc ,even though he hasnt done anything wrong ,his just part of the old guard ,that has failed to consistenly turn up for matches .
Posted 18:13 26th February 2013
bluechief says...
why don't they bring rougerie in? is he considered old in france? he knows fofana inside out and would be able to defend and attack effectively for a full 80 mins, unlike the fat bastereaud (makes much more sense to put him on the bench, although he only covers 1 pos.). and michalak? well, hot or cold, class or terrible. too many negatives outweigh his positives perhaps? stick him on the bench and you have cover for 9 and 10, freeing up a back position in the 23.
Posted 14:17 26th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
I've always liked Medard, good finisher.
Posted 13:02 26th February 2013
Rosbif says...
As you say Axax, PSA is taking baby steps! Eventually we might see O'Connor for Clerc, Ben Arous for Debaty, Chaume for Ducalcon, Guirardo/Orioli for Szarzewski, Gunther for Classen, and perhaps Lopez for Michalak. Buttin and Fickou are also clearly on the radar, but you'd need to re-arrange the backline and drop some of Machenaud/Basta/Fritz etc. Hopefully we'll see some of these new faces in NZ this summer.
Meanwhile, Vahaa and his second row club-mate Tao must be chuckling down at Perpignan. Who does PSA like best? Or maybe it's pick-and-mix until Pape comes back....
Posted 12:40 26th February 2013
Axax says...
Step after step, we start to see a good team. BUT:
- I don't understand why Szarzewski is still in the short list though - he had many opportunities to show his skills but has never confirmed. Plus he is getting old. I think it is time to move on and call in someone like Christopher Tolofua (a monster even though he has been a bit disappointing recently).
- As for Huget it is clear he got much improved but I still believe someone like Butin, who has the power of a George North, should be number 1 at this position.
- I am also looking forward to see Fickou called in as well. He is still a bit young maybe, but gosh he is a bulldozer.
- Finally, Michalak has to be dropped. He was amazing in November but what his performance during the 6N is not acceptable. Camille Lopez should have his chance now.
All in all France have amazing players but PSA's choices are still surprising in my opinion. Patience patience...
Posted 12:19 26th February 2013