RBS Six Nations: Marty, Traille and Palisson start in revamped French side against Wales

Under-fire France coach Marc Lièvremont has, as expected, rung the changes for his side's Six Nations clash with Wales in Paris on Saturday.

Lièvremont had already signalled his intentions by jettisoning six players after last weekend's humiliating defeat by Italy, and attacking his squad for cowardice in the face of the Azzurri's physical approach.

Out went Sébastien Chabal, Yannick Jauzion, Clément Poitrenaud, Jérôme Thion and Sylvain Marconnet - with Lièvremont claiming their international careers could be over - while Clermont centre Aurélien Rougerie was overlooked due to a forthcoming LNR disciplinary hearing.

Furious Lièvremont discards six

As a result Lièvremont has named a new-look centre pairing of Damien Traille and the recalled David Marty, while Brive's Alexis Palisson comes in for Yoann Huget on the wing as the Bayonne man drops to the bench.

Maxime Médard starts at full-back, with Fabrice Estebanez named among the substitutes.

France's front five remain unchanged, but Chabal's absence has paved the way for Biarritz skipper Imanol Harinordoquy to return to the starting XV, with Julien Bonnaire partnering Thierry Dusautoir in the flanking positions.

Castres prop Luc Ducalcon comes on to the bench, alongside Clermont flanker Alexandre Lapandry and Stade Francais lock Pascal Papé, with Montpellier's Julien Tomas providing cover for Morgan Parra in the scrum-half position.

It is hardly a radical departure from the catastrophe of Rome last weekend, and it remains to be seen if Lièvremont has actually lost the confidence of his squad following his severe criticism, or whether he has prompted them to respond in a positive manner.

Lièvremont's indecision hurting France

Lièvremont revealed his re-jigged side at Marcoussis on Tuesday morning as criticism continued to be fired in his direction. The latest to take a pot-shot was Stade Toulousain head coach Guy Noves, who has been continually passed over by the FFR.

Noves, the most successful club coach in European rugby, said the French team was inevitably in a mess as it was being led by a coaching team without experience.

"You don't get the feeling of coherence," said Noves. "I've got the impression that the tam has changed direction because the staff were busy getting experience, but you don't become  a great coach in four years," he added.

"If you review the last four years is there a thread between the first, second, third and fourth year," asked the man who has guided Toulouse to a record four Heineken Cup triumphs.

"Everyone is in a state of uncertainty. When Marc Lièvremont says that he's going back to square one that's effectively what you feel - you have the impression that what has been done in the past three and a half years amounts to nothing."

But Noves said Lièvremont wasn't totally to blame for the national team's current malaise. "The responsibility lies with those who appointed him. When they did it they should have been able to say he was the man for the job. What really bothers me is that he always blames someone else. before it was a physical problem, now we're talking about technical problems," blasted Noves.

The Toulouse coach also defended dropped centre Jauzion, saying he believed the veteran international still had plenty to offer for France. He admitted that Poitrenaud's form was not good even to merit continued inclusion but said of Jauzion that it was harsh to be "told that his Test career is over. Maybe this coach is very close to the end of his coaching career and that Yannick will become an international again under his successor."

When and how the Lièvremont era will end remains to be seen, but he received the backing of the FFR this week and will undoubtedly remain in place until the end of the World Cup later this year.

Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Date: Saturday 19 March 2011
KO: 20.45