FRANCE v WALES:WING SHANE Williams is out of Wales' Six Nations clash against France in Paris on Saturday due to a knee injury. The 34-year-old was due to make his final Six Nations appearance after confirming at the weekend this tournament would be his last.
But he has suffered knee ligament damage and will instead target an international swansong at the World Cup in New Zealand in the autumn. George North and Morgan Stoddart are contenders to replace Williams.
“Shane will be out of action for a period of six to eight weeks after sustaining damage to the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the match at the weekend,” said Wales’ medical manager Prav Mathema.
“Thankfully there is no need for surgical intervention and he will now undergo a period of rehabilitation which will see him return to full fitness.”
France coach Marc Lievremont yesterday admitted his regret at an outburst following Saturday’s defeat by Italy in which he suggested several players may not represent Les Bleus again.
Lievremont gave a scathing assessment the day after the 22-21 loss in Rome, saying he was “ashamed” and felt “betrayed” by his players. He also dropped six players from the squad and stated some had played their last international games.
However, as he unveiled a team with five changes to it for the Wales match, Lievremont showed a measure of contrition. Quoted on www.lequipe.fr, Lievremont said: “I regret my comments on the international decline of some. It was clumsy of me.”
Nevertheless, Lievremont has performed substantial surgery on his team. Among the changes, David Marty and Damien Traille forge a new centre partnership, Brive wing Alexis Palisson is preferred to Bayonne’s Yoann Huget, Clermont prop Thomas Domingo takes over from Sylvain Marconnet and number eight Imanol Harinordoquy is recalled.
FRANCE(v Wales, Stade de France, Saturday, 7.45pm): M Medard (Toulouse); V Clerc (Toulouse), D Marty (Perpignan), D Traille (Biarritz), A Palisson (Brive); F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), M Parra (Clermont); T Domingo (Clermont), W Servat (Toulouse), N Mas (Perpignan), J Pierre (Clermont), L Nallet (Racing Metro), T Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), J Bonnaire (Clermont), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz). Replacements: G Guirado (Perpignan), L Ducalon (Castres), P Pape (Stade Francais), A Lapandry (Clermont), J Tomas (Montpellier), F Estebanez (Brive), Y Huget (Bayonne).
TMO FOR LEINSTER SCHOOLS FINAL
IN AN attempt to avoid the human error that is all too prevalent in rugby circles of late, tomorrow’s Leinster Schools Cup final at the RDS will employ a television match official.
The meeting between overwhelming favourites Clongowes Wood College, seeking to retain the title for the first time, and Cistercian College, Roscrea, will be televised live on Setanta Ireland (kick-off 3.30pm). Kevin Beggs will referee the match but he also has the option of reverting to Alan Rogan in the stand should any uncertainty arise with regard to a try or kick at goal.
