Six Nations:Marc Lièvremont ushered in a new dawn in French rugby by naming six uncapped players in a much-changed squad for next month's Six Nations opener against Scotland.
Lièvremont's first squad announcement raised a few eyebrows, with props Julien Brugnaut and Lionel Faure, lock Arnaud Mela, scrumhalf Morgan Parra, outhalf François Trinh-Duc and winger Julien Malzieu receiving first call-ups. Just as surprising were the omissions, including the World Cup players Sébastien Chabal, Pierre Mignoni, Jérôme Thion, Clement Poitrenaud and David Marty.
With the veterans Fabien Pelous, Raphaël Ibañez, Serge Betsen and Christophe Dominici all having retired from Test rugby, props Sylvain Marconnet, Pieter De Villiers and Olivier Milloud not considered because of injury and Frédéric Michalak now in South Africa, the squad looks shorn of established stars.
But Lièvremont insisted: "Over the past three months, we have watched a lot of matches and followed the progress of French rugby. We have considered everyone. We took into consideration everything, the players who are in form and the team we are to be playing against."
The front row will be completely changed. Dax's Brugnaut and Sale's Faure were surprise call-ups. The Toulouse hooker William Servat is recalled and will battle with Dimitri Szarzewski for a place.
In the second row, new captain Lionel Nallet will be partnered by Albi's Mela or Clermont Auvergne's Loïc Jacquet.
Montpellier's Fulgence Ouedraogo, who has one cap, is one of four back-rowers chosen and there is a return for the Clermont Auvergne number eight Elvis Vermeulen. Rémy Martin, Imanol Harinordoquy, Yannick Nyanga and Chabal miss out.
Bourgoin's Parra gets the nod over Mignoni as the second-choice scrumhalf behind Jean-Baptiste Élissalde, while uncapped Montpellier outhalf Trinh-Duc will be David Skrela's understudy. Michalak, who recently had a knee operation, and Lionel Beauxis of Stade Français, who is not match-fit, miss out.
With Marty dropped and Yannick Jauzion injured, Damien Traille is joined by the returning Florian Fritz at centre and in the back three, the uncapped Clermont Auvergne winger Malzieu is chosen ahead of the Toulouse fullback Poitrenaud.
Only 11 World Cup participants survived Lièvremont's cut. The starting XV will be announced on January 30th.
The Italy lock Marco Bortolami is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines with an eye injury.
Bortolami suffered an injury to his left eye during the recent 29-21 victory over Munster in the European Cup and tests in Rome confirmed the Gloucester captain had fractured two bones in his orbital zone.
Italy will thus be without Bortolami for the Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin on February 2nd but could return in time to face Wales at the Millennium Stadium on February 23rd.
France Squad v Scotland, Murrayfield, February 3rd
Backs:Jean-Baptiste Élissalde, Morgan Parra, François Trin-Dhuc, David Skrela, Florian Fritz, Damien Traille, Vincent Clerc, Julien Malzieu, Cedric Heymans, Aurélien Rougerie.
Forwards:Julien Brugnaut, Lionel Faure, Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Dimitri Szarzewski, Loïc Jacquet, Lionel Nallet, Arnaud Mela, Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Elvis Vermeulen.
•Five new players have been included in the Irish women's squad for their opening Six Nations match against Italy at St Mary's RFC on Friday, February 1st.
Coach John O'Sullivan has included Gillian Bourke, Louise Austin and Kate O'Loughlin in the pack as well as uncapped backs Niamh Briggs and Amy Davis.
IRELAND (v Italy) - Backs:S Belton (Capt), L Beamish, T Rosser, N Briggs, J O'Sullivan, P Kelly, S Houston, G Davitt , L Cantwell, A Davis. Forwards:F Coghlan, M Barrett, G Bourke, J Limbert, Y Nolan, G Healy, C Mahon, K O'Loughlin, L Austin, O Brennan, E O'Sullivan, S Ryan.
