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Six NationsFrance

France name team for Italy

The France players line up for the national anthem prior to the Guinness Six Nations match against England in February (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Beleagured Jacques Brunel has ripped asunder his France team that were humiliated in Dublin last Sunday, making six changes to the side that will play Italy in Rome on Saturday. 

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France were massively out-played by Ireland, only responding with two consolation tries after falling 26 points in arrears.

It was their 10th loss in Brunel’s 14-match reign and the under-fire coach has responded by ringing the changes for fear that their terrible Six Nations campaign could finish on the humiliating low of a Stadio Olimpico defeat. 

The French forwards had no answer to Ireland’s pressure game and Brunel had made four alterations to his pack. With Jefferson Poirot injured, Etienne Falgoux will make his first Test start at loosehead.

Paul Willemse returns to the second row to partner Felix Lambey, while Yacouba Camara and Gregory Alldritt are both handed starts in the back row in place of the injured Wenceslas Lauren and Arthur Iturria who drops to the bench.

(Continue reading below…)

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In the backs, Wesley Fofana, who was injured in the championship opener against Wales, returns in place of Gael Fickou. The other back line change sees Maxime Medard return at full-back for his Toulouse clubmate Thomas Ramos.

“We want to show a different face this week, but the results speak themselves,” said Brunel after announcing his team.

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“We are not at the level of some of the other teams in this championship. But the team that played against Ireland and England, that was not the real French team.

“We haven’t fixed everything. Of course there are still things we need to work on. We will carry on, working hard and with the World Cup to come, we are hopeful we can get it right.”

FRANCE TEAM (versus Italy)

15. Maxime Medard (Toulouse)

14. Damian Penaud (Clermont)

13. Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon)

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12. Wesley Fofana (Clermont)

11. Yoann Huget (Toulouse)

10. Romain Ntamack (Toulouse)

9. Antoine Dupont (Toulouse)

1. Etienne Falgoux (Clermont)

2. Guilhem Guirado (Montpellier)

3. Demba Bamba (Brive)

4. Felix Lambey (Lyon)

5. Paul Willemse (Montpellier)

6. Gregory Alldritt (La Rochelle)

7. Yacouba Camara (Montpellier)

8. Louis Picamoles (Montpellier)

Replacements:

16. Camille Chat (Racing 92)

17. Dany Priso (La Rochelle)

18. Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse)

19. Paul Gabrillagues (Stade Francais)

20. Arthur Iturria (Clermont)

21. Baptiste Serin (Bordeaux-Begles)

22. Camille Lopez (Clermont)

23. Thomas Ramos (Toulouse)

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Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 19 minutes ago
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Fiji. 1 point.

2 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 22 minutes ago
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

I tend to agree with Campese. This is probably the last chance Eben has of winning the award. But man, Cheslin and PSDT have been sublime.

4 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 23 minutes ago
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

Possibly. But this welsh team is no better than a good URC team at this point.


But a tough match is what is needed for the inexperienced in the group. Building depth etc.


Nobody learns anything pumping a team by 50.

4 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 26 minutes ago
Rob Howley: Warren Gatland is 'the best coach in the world'

Jeepers. That’s a nuclear response given the context.


By all means back the man. But there’s no need to go overboard with calling him the world best coach.

1 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 29 minutes ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

He played a big role, as director of rugby prior to stepping in as coach, putting systems in place. He’s been involved in many of these players careers since they were teens or debutants at their provincial teams.


So I agree with you 100% it’s not Gatlands fault the pipeline of players is poor.

20 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 33 minutes ago
Johan Ackermann returns to SA in new coaching role

Rassie is going to coach the boks until he’s 65. Never get tired of this.


I said a while ago that a South African would do well with Wales. Similar philosophy to the game. Perhaps Johan should do a stint at Wales?

4 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 34 minutes ago
The Springboks confirm one change made to team named on Tuesday

It could be about the cut. It doesn’t seem wise to risk a reinjury.


Also an opportunity to give others a run.

6 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 36 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

It a hypothesis sure, perhaps Felix has a sweet deal lined up somewhere else. But I also don’t think he’d say something about that environment if it wasn’t true. He doesn’t strike me as a douche.

13 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 38 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

Just a hypothesis. What on earth else could be the issue with regards to the environment as claimed by Felix?

13 Go to comments
J
JM 43 minutes ago
'Lightweight' Premiership not preparing England players for Test rugby

You start off talking about physicality and then quickly segue to intensity as if they're the same thing.

If you think the Premiership isn't physical then you're either a fool, or being disingenuous.

One of the issues the Premiership does have when it comes to intensity is that the bonus point structure makes the last 20 minutes of lots of games meaningless. Everyone's wrapped up their points, benches are cleared, the quality of the game deteriorates, and what could be tense conclusions end up just petering out.

12 Go to comments
T
Tom 52 minutes ago
'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England'

Willis is incredible and probably the best of the bunch but in Underhill and Earl we have two excellent alternatives.


Willis is solid in the lineout but I don't think Borthwick would pick a backrow without a 6'5" blindside.

4 Go to comments
T
Toaster 55 minutes ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

As an ABs fan there’s nothing to justify

The Boks are the best and just know how to win

And their depth is incredible now

And when they don’t they lose late on by one point


The rest of us aren’t too far away (some closer than others)


But in reality if we include England Argentina and now Aus rugby looks greatly competitive


Bongis knock on and Lomaxes double bank

These things happen


The fact is the ABs overall have evolved with new players and others like Aumua Vaai and Williams who have progressed immensely


But by and large although it has improved overall our second halves are a massive work in progress


So a B- is about right provided there is no loss to Italy

A loss drops it to C- !!

Remember we could have lost all three games to England but were just slightly better that’s all

29 Go to comments
f
fl 56 minutes ago
'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England'

Willis is decent in the lineout to be fair, but definitely lacking a heavyweight ball carrier.


I think between Underhill, Curry, and Willis there isn't a huge amount between them. Maybe Willis would be good enough to start, but he wouldn't massively improve the team.

4 Go to comments
T
Tom 58 minutes ago
'England's blanket of despair feels overdone - they are not a team in freefall'

I'm not sure he is getting there and I don't think he will. Progress has been glacial honestly. Our attacking structure hasn't improved at all, except that he's now picking Marcus Smith who is a one man attack at the moment... And our defence for obvious reasons is now awful. I would have faith in Borthwick if I had faith in his assistant coaches... But I don't think Wigglesworth is an attack coach and why would he be? He's never been an attack coach and he spent his entire career box kicking. Our defence coach has never been employed as a defence coach and is still the head coach of a second division French side with an awful defensive record. The fact that Borthwick appointed them both is a poor reflection. If we still had Felix Jones and we had Mike Catt/Nick Evans or someone in the attack coach role, I'd be content to be patient and that results will come. With Wigglesworth and Joe El Abd, I have no faith that we will improve and I've seen no signs that we are.

16 Go to comments
E
EV 1 hour ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

You miss the point. There is no pipeline of players. A coach cannot change that. That is up to the Welsh RFU, which have failed.


Rassie is a clever bugger, no doubt, but the Boks could play 52 players this year because of the systems they have put in place to find and develop players from schoolboy level up.

20 Go to comments
E
EV 1 hour ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Rassie is ruling the roost because he put systems in place to find and develop the best players from schoolboy level up. Its an entire system and organisation that now, several years down the line, presents him with a pipeline of battle ready talent.


Wales lacks this, lacks a Director of Rugby. Firing Gatland won't change this fact. He is an world class coach. If anything Abi Tierney should be shipped out for failing to put these systems in place over the last 11 months.

20 Go to comments
T
Tom 1 hour ago
'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England'

In terms of player quality, that is a phenomenal backrow. In terms of balance, not so much. Lacks a heavyweight ball carrier and a lineout option. I'm sure they'd still cause havoc though.

4 Go to comments
S
SC 1 hour ago
New Zealand can't keep losing first fives like Harry Plummer

Is Harry Plummer a better 10 than Barrett or McKenzie? I do not think he is close to their level. Clearly, neither does Robertson.


Therefore Plummer does not deserve to start or be on the bench for an All Black Test if he is not one of the top two in his position. The third best player at a position should only be selected if one of the top two are injured.


This applies to all players at all positions.


The All Black XV team is for player development. The All Blacks should not be.

6 Go to comments
T
Tk 1 hour ago
Five changes for the All Blacks, including the return of Sam Cane

Worst selection of the year. Farewells for Sam and TJ- but they are not retiring greats, they have chosen to leave NZ rugby for pay days. Havili, just why? Lakai had a great 78 mins last week now dropped for a retirement party. Reuben Love anyone, you know, a player who will be around come RWC'27!

11 Go to comments
S
SC 1 hour ago
Five changes for the All Blacks, including the return of Sam Cane

Italy beat both Wales and Scotland and tied France in this year's Six Nations.

11 Go to comments
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