PARIS, March 6 (Reuters) – France manager Philippe Saint-Andre has made seven changes to the team that put in a dismal display against Wales as Les Bleus seek to put their Six Nations challenge back on track when they face Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Saint-Andre has remained loyal to Jules Plisson at flyhalf for the fourth match in a row, pairing the Stade Français player with Maxime Machenaud and relegating Jean-Marc Doussain to the bench.
The entire third row has changed with Damien Chouly, Alexandre Lapandry and Sebastien Vahaamahina forming a combination that provides more power than pace.
“Some changes were made because of injuries,” Saint-Andre told a news conference on Thursday, referring to hooker Dimitri Szarzewski, centre Wesley Fofana and flanker Yannick Nyanga.
Others were simply punished after France produced a miserable performance in a 27-6 defeat in Cardiff on Feb. 21.
“When you start one game but not the following one, it is a sanction,” said Saint-Andre, who axed number eight Louis Picamoles from the squad after he sarcastically applauded the referee at the Millennium Stadium when he was sin-binned.
“If we want Pascal Pape to do his job as a captain, he needs to have 14 players around him who are focused on working on the pitch,” Saint-Andre warned.
France are one of four teams level on four points after three games and beating Scotland would set up a mouth-watering finale against Ireland at the Stade de France.
“Players owe themselves a chance of revenge,” Saint-Andre said.
“Let’s not lie to ourselves… we were just not there against Wales. We were beaten on the essence of our sport: combat.”
France team:
15-Brice Dulin, 14-Yoann Huget, 13-Mathieu Bastareaud, 12-Maxime Mermoz, 11-Maxime Medard, 10-Jules Plisson, 9-Maxime Machenaud, 8-Damien Chouly, 7-Alexandre Lapandry, 6-Sebastien Vahaamahina, 5-Yoann Maestri, 4-Pascal Pape (captain), 3-Nicolas Mas, 2-Brice Mach, 1-Thomas Domingo
Replacements: 16-Guilhem Guirado, 17-Vincent Debaty, 18-Rabah Slimani, 19-Alexandre Flanquart, 20-Antonie Claassen, 21-Jean-Marc Doussain, 22-Remi Tales, 23-Gael Fickou (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by John O’Brien)
Article source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/rugby-league-koukash-calls-change-152929076--spt.html
Rugby-Wounded France ring changes for Scotland game
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