France squad for Italy game

PSA just announced its 23 players squad and the main surprise is the inclusion of Stade Français prop David Attoub (some certainly remember him for some infamous gouging) who wasnt even in the 30 players extended squad.
guess there must be some uncertainties around Mas form.
Otherwise Nyanga is not there as well but one or two of the backrows had to go (thoughr it would been Picamoles personnaly but the choice seems dictated by balancing power with ball carrying /line outs skills)

Forwards (13) : Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Toulouse), David Attoub (Stade Français), William Servat (Toulouse), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français), Pascal Papé (Stade Français), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Lionel Nallet (Racing), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse/Cap), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz)

backs (10) : Morgan Parra (Clermont), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Lionel Beauxis (Toulouse), Aurélien Rougerie (Clermont), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Julien Malzieu (Clermont), Maxime Médard (Toulouse)

What I'd imagine:

01 Jean Baptiste Poux
02 William Servat
03 Nicolas Mas
04 Yoann Maestri
05 Pascal Pape
06 Imanol Harinordoquy
07 Thierry Dusatoir
08 Louis Picamoles
09 Dimitri Yachivili
10 Trinh Duc
11 Julien Malzieu
12 Wesley Fofana
13 Aurelien Rougerie
14 Vincent Clerc
15 Maxime Medard

16 Dimitri Szarzewski
17 Vincent Debaty
18 David Attoub
19 Lionel Nallet
20 Julien Bonnaire
21 Morgan Parra
22 Lionel Beauxis
23 Maxime Mermoz

Its a great mixture of experience and new players there isnt it.

The balance of their squad looks so much more healthy than that of Englands, thats before you even make player quality comparissons.

that what it would certainly look like Stag bar some possible permutations in the backrow (Bonnaire at 6, Hari at 8 etc). Parra is also a possible starter (although hope PSA rates Yachvili kicking game better).

May make myself look a bit dull here but is the 6 Nations using a 23 man squad?

Thought it was still 22.

Whocares, I am a big Picamoles fan so made sure he was included.

The Parra v Yachvili one is interesting.

I don't know how anyone can look at that group of players and make anyone other than France favourites for the Six Nations.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:I don't know how anyone can look at that group of players and make anyone other than France favourites for the Six Nations.

Agree. I think though that it completely hinges on Trinh Duc. If he does well France will do well. If not they are screwed.

Parra at 10 doesn't work IMO and Beauxis is a poor backup.

I agree as well - France must be favourties. Playing England and Ireland in Paris is helpful as well. The trip to Cardiff on the last day will have a grand slam riding on it I predict.

Slightly harsh there on Beauxis I think. Trinh Duc is better at getting the backline moving but I wouldn't describe Beauxis as "poor backup" at all. He's been messed about position wise in his career but now that he's cemented at 10 I think he gives France some options. Great boot on him.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:I don't know how anyone can look at that group of players and make anyone other than France favourites for the Six Nations.

How many of those were at the WC, is it still pretty much same side?

We seen how hit n miss they were there but for me the key is St Andre, France are my faves for the Slam but a lot of it will be down to Phillippe, I relly think he will have them firing.

bedfordwelsh wrote:May make myself look a bit dull here but is the 6 Nations using a 23 man squad?

Thought it was still 22.

It's still 22.
France just always seems to pick 23 man squads before games.

It really annoys me that they havent made the 23 man squad universal.

The SANZAR teams are preventing it from going through.

France squad for Italy game

whocares


Sorry but thats the first thing i saw and i had to laugh

eirebilly wrote:France squad for Italy game

whocares


Sorry but thats the first thing i saw and i had to laugh

should really change my name here !

and for those who do care here's the starting XV for the Italy game. prretty muc has expected (Debaty starting being a half surprise).

15. Médard; 14. Clerc, 13. Rougerie, 12. Fofana, 11. Malzieu; 10. Trinh-Duc, 9. Yachvili; 7. Bonnaire, 8. Picamoles, 6. Dusautoir (cap.); 5. Nallet, 4. Papé; 3. Mas, 2. Servat, 1. Debaty.

Bench: 16; Szarzewski, 17. Poux, 18. Maestri, 19. Harinordoquy, 20. Parra, 21. Beauxis, 22. Mermoz.

Formidable. In the English sense.

No Harinordoquy??

Beauxis is fit.

I think its a superb team. Poux on the bench is interesting and I would have backed Maestri to start ahead of Nallet who didn't make original squad.

Backline is immense.

Seriously does anyone see past France for this tournament?
If they turn up there could be some hammerings.

whocares wrote:and for those who do care here's the starting XV for the Italy game. prretty muc has expected (Debaty starting being a half surprise).

15. Médard; 14. Clerc, 13. Rougerie, 12. Fofana, 11. Malzieu; 10. Trinh-Duc, 9. Yachvili; 7. Bonnaire, 8. Picamoles, 6. Dusautoir (cap.); 5. Nallet, 4. Papé; 3. Mas, 2. Servat, 1. Debaty.

Bench: 16; Szarzewski, 17. Poux, 18. Maestri, 19. Harinordoquy, 20. Parra, 21. Beauxis, 22. Mermoz.

Scary team there. Would have liked to see Hari start over Bonnaire though. I think that would be the best French backrow. France I think will get the grand slam win this year.

Can't wait to see how Picamoles and Fofana go, both could be real stars of the tournament.

I kind of wish Parra was starting though, the French always had a lot more tempo to their game with him there rather then the regimented/controlling/kick chase of Yachvili, both are very good place kickers too.

It always surprises me how only France create these kinds of SH's.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

whocares wrote:and for those who do care here's the starting XV for the Italy game. prretty muc has expected (Debaty starting being a half surprise).

15. Médard; 14. Clerc, 13. Rougerie, 12. Fofana, 11. Malzieu; 10. Trinh-Duc, 9. Yachvili; 7. Bonnaire, 8. Picamoles, 6. Dusautoir (cap.); 5. Nallet, 4. Papé; 3. Mas, 2. Servat, 1. Debaty.

Bench: 16; Szarzewski, 17. Poux, 18. Maestri, 19. Harinordoquy, 20. Parra, 21. Beauxis, 22. Mermoz.

Scary team there. Would have liked to see Hari start over Bonnaire though. I think that would be the best French backrow. France I think will get the grand slam win this year.

Bonnaire has been much better for the past few weeks and as good as Hari is they aren't losing muc with him out of the team. Hari instead of Picamoles would be the more likely change anyways. Besides the second row the team is insanely good.

The only thing is that Clerc has a slight injury concern and may have to do a late fitness test.

I doubt it would be more likely for Hari to be over Picamoles, doesn't Hari play 7 and Lakafia (sp) plays 8? I expected France to do the same with Picamoles.

Its only Italy to be fair. Playing Picamoles with Bonnaire will probably allow Picamoles to do a bit more running and crashing while Bonnaire does the dirty work with Dusautoir.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I doubt it would be more likely for Hari to be over Picamoles, doesn't Hari play 7 and Lakafia (sp) plays 8? I expected France to do the same with Picamoles.

Hari has played 8 a lot for France. Picamoles is the best backrow for carrying and Bonnaire is superb in the lineout so
dropping hari doesn't mean France lose much and like I said Hari has been poor since the world cup due to injury and
overplaying for the past year.

Can't wait to see this team in action. Allowing Bonnaire do the grunt before bringing Hari off the bench is a smart move. (if thats the way it will work)

Backline looks pretty amazing - and if Fofana steps up (as I think most expect him to).

Agree that looks a fine 22. Couldn't understand why Nallet wasn't in the original squad, thought he had a very good year in 2011 although I guess he is getting on a bit. Perhaps he is France's answer to Nick Easter

Another who would like to see a Dusatoir, Picamoles & Harinordoquy backrow combo, although I appreciate what Bonnaire brings to the team in terms of the dark arts. Perhaps they are saving that combo until they meet the weakest team at the breakdown in Paris in a few weeks time (God help us).

B91212 wrote:Agree that looks a fine 22. Couldn't understand why Nallet wasn't in the original squad, thought he had a very good year in 2011 although I guess he is getting on a bit. Perhaps he is France's answer to Nick Easter

Another who would like to see a Dusatoir, Picamoles & Harinordoquy backrow combo, although I appreciate what Bonnaire brings to the team in terms of the dark arts. Perhaps they are saving that combo until they meet the weakest team at the breakdown in Paris in a few weeks time (God help us).

Nallet is lucky to be in the squad, most French fans would rather someone else much younger but there is nobody demanding to be selected in the second row. Those who started the season well have either been injured or their form has fallen off a cliff.

valjester wrote:Nallet is lucky to be in the squad, most French fans would rather someone else much younger but there is nobody demanding to be selected in the second row. Those who started the season well have either been injured or their form has fallen off a cliff.

Is it just because of age or has his form dropped from last year as well?

That looks like a mean team. So France for the title then.

B91212 wrote:

valjester wrote:Nallet is lucky to be in the squad, most French fans would rather someone else much younger but there is nobody demanding to be selected in the second row. Those who started the season well have either been injured or their form has fallen off a cliff.

Is it just because of age or has his form dropped from last year as well?

A bit of both, I think the most disappointing is that there are no viable alternatives who have played much better.

Is Julien Pierre injured? He's a pretty handy lock.

As a neutral, exceptwhen they play against us of course I am really looking forward to see what St Andre does with this squad, I reckon he will have them firing and certainly be the team to beat.

gowales wrote:Is Julien Pierre injured? He's a pretty handy lock.

Again we're not talking about a young player and he has struggled at times this season.

Fact of the day...Rougerie hasnt scored a try for France in 15 games since he first got picked as a starting 13

Heres the team...!

France: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 François Trinh-Duc, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Pascal Pape, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 1 Vincent Debaty.
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Yoann Maestri, 19 Imanol Harinordoquy, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 Lionel Beauxis, 22 Maxime Mermoz.

Looks very good...!

Heres the Azzurri

Italy:15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Kristopher Burton, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (c) 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Cornelius van Zyl, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice, 17 Lorenzo Cittadini, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Simone Favaro, 20 Fabio Semenzato, 21 Tobias Botes, 22 Gonzalo Canale.