SIX NATIONS NEWS:FRANCE HAVE named uncapped Wesley Fofana in their team to face Italy in the opening game of the Six Nations at the Stade de France on Saturday with manager Philippe Saint-Andre saying his selection shows there are opportunities for young prospects.
“We want to show that the France team is open to young players who are regular starters with their club,” Saint-Andre, who took over from Marc Lievremont last December, told a news conference at France’s training camp on the outskirts of Paris.
Centre Fofana will partner Clermont team-mate Aurelien Rougerie in a team featuring 12 players from the World Cup squad that reached the final against New Zealand last October. “He is a classy player, I just want him not to be shy. I want him to show with France what he has been showing in the Top 14.”
The presence of Rougerie should help Fofana on his international debut as France will be out to avenge last year’s Six Nations defeat by Italy. “[Rougerie’s] presence is reassuring, he’s the daddy of the backline and the fact that they play club rugby together was a factor,” Saint-Andre explained.
The powerful Louis Picamoles will start as number eight at the expense of Imanol Harinordoquy. “He is powerful and he has been impressive with his club since he came back from the World Cup, while Imanol was out injured for three weeks,” said Saint-Andre.
Francois Trinh-Duc will start at outhalf as expected, with Dimitri Yachvili at scrumhalf.
Belgian-born Vincent Debaty, who has only won one cap for France back in 2006, will start at loosehead prop, where he is expected to challenge Italy’s Martin Castrogiovanni. Debaty was impressive against Castrogiovanni in Clermont’s 30-12 victory over Leicester in the Heineken Cup last month.
Edinburgh wing Lee Jones will make his Scotland debut against England at Murrayfield on Saturday after coach Andy Robinson unveiled a team showing eight changes from their World Cup pool game against the same opponents.
Chris Paterson has retired and Joe Ansbro and Ruaridh Jackson are recovering from injury but the five other changes are down to selection. Although there is a new look to the side who narrowly lost that Auckland pool encounter in October, the team announced yesterday is packed with experience – six players in the match squad have each won more than 50 caps.
Dan Parks will start at outhalf outside Chris Cusiter while captain and hooker Ross Ford will pack down in a strong front row alongside Allan Jacobsen and Euan Murray. Former captain Alastair Kellock is on the bench as Jim Hamilton and Richie Gray start at lock while 21-year-old David Denton will make his first start in the back row.
“I’ve been pleased with the consistency Lee Jones has shown and he fully deserves to win his first cap,” Robinson said.
England, under the temporary charge of Stuart Lancaster, will name their team tomorrow.
SCOTLAND(v England, Murrayfield, Saturday, 5pm): R Lamont (Glasgow Warriors); L Jones (Edinburgh), N De Luca (Edinburgh), S Lamont (Scarlets), M Evans (Castres); D Parks (Cardiff Blues), C Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (capt, Edinburgh), E Murray (Newcastle), R Gray (Glasgow Warriors), J Hamilton (Gloucester), A Strokosch (Gloucester), R Rennie (Edinburgh), D Denton (Edinburgh). Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), G Cross (Edinburgh), A Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), J Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), M Blair (Edinburgh), G Laidlaw (Edinburgh), G Morrison (Glasgow Warriors).
FRANCE(v Italy, Stade de France, Sat): M Medard (Toulouse); V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), W Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne); F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), D Yachvili (Biarritz); V Debaty (Clermont Auvergne), W Servat (Toulouse), N Mas (Perpignan), P Pape (Stade Francais), L Nallet (Racing Metro), T Dusautoir (capt, Toulouse), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), L Picamoles (Toulouse). Replacements: D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), J-B Poux (Toulouse), Y Maestri (Toulouse), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), L Beauxis (Toulouse), M Mermoz (Perpignan).
