Fly-half: Frédéric Michalak
France have recalled veteran Frédéric Michalak to fly-half while Florian Fritz and Maxime Médard also make the XV for their Six Nations clash with Ireland.
Les Bleus go into the match at the Aviva Stadium rooted to the bottom of the table and are out to avoid their first wooden spoon since 1999.
Philippe Saint-André's men, however, have the psychological advantage of knowing that they have only lost once to Ireland in their last 13 games - the Irish's Grand Slam victory in 2009.
France have named an unchanged pack for the clash, with Thierry Dusautoir leading the side.
France: 15 Yoann Huget, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Maxime Medard, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Christophe Samson, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 Guilhem Guirado, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Luc Ducalcon, 19 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 20 Antonie Claassen, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 Francois Trinh-Duc, 23 Mathieu Bastareaud.
Date: Saturday, March 9
Kick-off: 17:00
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Greg Garner (England)
Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
Comments
yuri29 says...
"I am a fan of Michalak from his time as a Shark, but he isnt gelling at 10 for France"
Well, he was more than gelling during the last AIs, being the form FH of the AIs.
I truly believe the long season he's had has began to tire him a lot.
Posted 12:00 07th March 2013
yuri29 says...
"Michalak would also not have been my first choice 10 for France so glad to see him starting. "
Has Michalak even got defeated by Ireland starting at 10?
Posted 11:47 07th March 2013
yuri29 says...
"That said, Parra played better at 10 in the World Cup than Michalak has played this season (or possibly ever?). "
Such an ignorant comment.
Are you forgetting that Freddie was possibly the best FH last year, making the super 15 final (being outstanding with the Sharks) and playing incredibly well with France in the last AIs??
Don't be lured by his showing during this 6N as, even though we know he isn't the most consistent FH around, he is nowhere near as bad as his last games would indicate.
He is/was probably very tired after having not had any rest since he began super 15 with the Sharks last year.
Posted 11:46 07th March 2013
mlbp says...
PSA can have made another mistake in his selection for this match as he did for the England match. Forestier didnżt play so badly as to have to be dropped completely out of the full squad. He is miles ahead of Debaty, who was one of the culprits of the loss against England. The same as Ducalcon. The quality gap between Domingo-Mas and Debaty-Ducalcon is really an abyss.
Posted 10:47 07th March 2013
mlbp says...
The players didn't show the commitment necessary for international matches against Italy or Wales, they looked tired and they didn't give their all. That's what really was to blame for their losses.
Some individual decisions, like Trinh-Duc's attempted drop-goal against Wales, didn't help either and clearly show the lack of confidence the team had in their own possibilities. PSA was not to blame entirely.
Posted 10:47 07th March 2013
mlbp says...
For me there was a worse mistake by PSA: Dusautoir shouldn't have played ahead of Nyanga or Ouedraogo in the first two matches. That was his worst selection. Anyway, Dusautoir played really well against England. He had regained full match-fitness by then.
Posted 10:46 07th March 2013
mlbp says...
Perhaps the only two players who played out of position in the first two matches were Huget (but he showed that he can be a 15 of full international standard) and Fofana. Michalak their best number 10 by far. PSA's bad selections are not the only reason for the bad results of the French.
Posted 10:46 07th March 2013
mlbp says...
This squad looks powerful and they can definitely beat Ireland if PSA doesn't start substituting players because everybody has to have a run. I wouldn't change the front row (any player really) except in case of an injury. I have said it in other posts, but changing players in a pre-match programmed way is stupid.
Bastareaud is so one-dimensional that it's better to have Fritz back in midfield. It will be interesting to see if the all-Toulouse back three can gel, though maybe they didn't have time to play together in the TOP14 this season yet.
Posted 10:44 07th March 2013
mlbp says...
Perhaps the better-looking squad in the tournament so far.
Posted 10:43 07th March 2013
Chinstan says...
Isn't the definition of insanity do the same thing repeatedly but expecting a different outcome? Surely that makes PSA completely bonkers! did he watch the Eng Fra game?
Posted 10:38 07th March 2013
daibok says...
I am a fan of Michalak from his time as a Shark, but he isnt gelling at 10 for France. Would be a good bench back up as 9 or 10, but this selection just seems perverse.
Posted 10:32 07th March 2013
vinnie_grsr says...
Good news for Ireland! He's been woeful this tournament, hope for the Boys in Green that Trin-Duc stays glued to that bench.
Posted 10:27 07th March 2013
apexpred says...
Great for Ireland, he's rubbish compared to Trinh-duc, very lightweight 9 + 10 as well, although Parra will kick everything we give him.
Posted 10:27 07th March 2013
gleek says...
Think we've caught a break in the centre. Fritz may be the better rugby player but Ireland always struggle against really physical centres so glad Basteraued is benched (cue Fritz hatrick!) Michalak would also not have been my first choice 10 for France so glad to see him starting.
That said, everywhere else on the pitch you'd have to say that France look superior and should win the games if they play as a team. Here's hoping they don't.
Posted 10:26 07th March 2013
blametheref says...
This is not France V Ireland from now seeing the French selection, especially at 10, this is two inept coaches V each other...I'd love to know what the players really think of their respective coaches
Posted 10:15 07th March 2013
99call says...
Come on guys
Caption competition for Freddies picture above
""Honestly Phil, of course I know how to play outhalf, the post are over there arent they""
Posted 10:10 07th March 2013
Bash says...
And we thought PSA couldn't get any crazier...
Posted 10:07 07th March 2013
99call says...
Im sorry has PSA been watching the same games that we all have, the only time France looked in any way decent was in the first half against England then Freddie came on and they fell apart again.
Dont get me wrong as an Irishman Im loving this selection but if Freddie plays like he has done in the last games we've actually got a good chance of winning.
I feel very sorry for the french fans at least our inept coach looks likely to be removed as he is at the end of his contract your idiot is only starting his.
Posted 10:02 07th March 2013
cymruambyth says...
they are insane
Posted 10:00 07th March 2013
J_Hdk says...
Michalak starts... phew Ireland have a chance
Posted 10:00 07th March 2013