Six Nations
preview: A new dawn beckons for Marc Lièvremont's youthful
French squad
06 February 2009
Ireland v France, Croke Park
(RBS Six Nations, round 1, 07/02/09, 18.00)
The
waiting is almost over and this year’s RBS Six Nations
championship is now just hours away from kick off.
Defending champions Wales are away to Scotland (on Sunday)
as they seek to rekindle their magic of last season, while
struggling England open their campaign at home to Italy.
France,
meanwhile, travel to Ireland for what should be the match of
the weekend as both teams go in search of the victory that
could shape their season.
The
obvious target of winning the championship itself remains
paramount, but the Holy Grail in rugby these days is the
World Cup and, with New Zealand 2011 now appearing on the
horizon, this year’s competition offers another stepping
stone along the path to the ultimate goal of global success.
This is
especially true of ‘Les Bleus’ as head coach Marc Lièvremont
begins to settle on a squad he believes can develop and grow
over the next three years. The former France flanker is
delighted his squad is currently injury free and the team
for Saturday’s opener at Croke Park is, he says, the
strongest he has put out since taking charge of the national
team.
Last
year he was heavily criticised for his experimental
selection policy but Lièvremont counters the argument, with
justification, by saying he needed to see his players
perform at international level. This time around the squad
is more settled and the head coach is now trying to blend
his team with that most potent of sporting mixtures – youth
and experience.
At the
core of Lièvremont’s policy is his desire to bring through
the heart of the side which he coached to victory in the
Under-21 World Cup in 2006.
The
pivotal axis of that side was the influential half-back
pairing of Sebastien Tillous-Borde and Lionel Beauxis, now
set to be unleashed on the full international stage for the
first time together following the dropping of Jean-Baptiste
Elissalde and the recent indifferent form of David Skrela.
Tillous-Borde, 23, is enjoying a fine season with Castres
despite the club’s overall struggles, while Beauxis, also
23, has been playing most of the season at full-back for
Stade Francais, although his versatility has enabled club
coach Ewen McKenzie to swap him at will with the Argentine
fly-half Juan-Martin Hernandez.
Lièvremont rates the pair extremely highly and believes the
time has now come for them to forge their partnership at the
highest level. Beauxis, he says, possesses the kicking game
required by an international number 10 – even likening him
to an “Anglo-Saxon” - and he certainly has the talent
outside him if he can set his exciting back-line free.
The
sublime running skills of Clement Poitrenaud – now back to
his best after a lengthy lay-off due a broken leg – are
complimented by Julien Malzieu, Florian Fritz, Yannick
Jauzion and Maxime Medard, another graduate from under-21
World Cup side and at 22 an outstanding prospect for the
future – even if his impressive sideburns hark back to a
previous era.
Poitrenaud (26), Fritz (25) and Malzieu (25) should all be
at or near the peak of their powers, while Jauzion (at 30)
remains the senior centre who has been arguably France’s
most consistent player of the past two seasons.
It could
make for a potent combination and Lièvremont has been
calling on his players this week to throw off the shackles
of conservatism and to rediscover the traditional French joy
for the running game. Like Guy Noves at Toulouse he knows
that winning is not enough – it has to be done with panache
too.
Up front
the French pack showed distinct signs of improvement in the
generally disappointing November internationals, notably
making mincemeat of the Australian forwards.
Gnarled
props Lionel Faure (31) and Benoit Lecouls (30) are
complemented by Leicester hooker Dimitri Szarzewski (26),
while the second row of captain Lionel Nallet (32) and
Sebastien Chabal (31) oozes class and experience. Their
weekend lineout confrontation with Paul O’Connell and
Donncha O’Callaghan is set to be one of the battles of the
tournament.
The French will be aided in their line-out
strength by the recall of Biarritz’s experienced number
eight Imanol Harinordoquy (28) – another player
rediscovering his best form after surgery – while flankers
Thierry Dusautoir (27) and the exciting Fulgence Ouedraogo
(22) complete the line up.
A
further nod to Lièvremont’s development policy can be seen
by his choice of substitutes, with Benjamin Kayser (24),
Louis Picamoles (23), Benoit Baby (25) and Morgan Parra (20)
all warming the bench. And just in case that’s not enough he
has the outrageous talent of Cedric Heymans (30) to bring on
if the wings are faltering.
It could
just be the start of something very special for the French,
but for that to happen they need results on the pitch to
breed the type of confidence that saw England and South
Africa build steadily towards their respective World Cup
winning campaigns.
Victory
at Croke Park would be a massive first step for the French
in what is an awkward Six Nations schedule. Three away games
out of five is never ideal, but at least they take on Wales
at home and now know that fortress Twickenham has lost its
ramparts.
Just got
to beat the Irish in the back yard then…
Teams
Ireland:
Robert Kearney;
Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll (capt), Paddy Wallace, Luke
Fitzgerald; Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary; Marcus Horan, Jerry
Flannery, John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell,
Stephen Ferris, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Rory Best, Tom Court, Malcolm O'Kelly,
Denis Leamy, Peter Stringer, Gordon D'Arcy, Geordan Murphy.
France:
Clement
Poitrenaud; Julien Malzieu, Florian Fritz, Yannick Jauzion,
Maxime Medard; Lionel Beauxis, Sebastien Tillous-Borde;
Lionel Faure, Dimitri Szarzewski, Benoit Lecouls, Sebastien
Chabal, Lionel Nallet (capt), Thierry Dusautoir, Fulgence
Ouedraogo, Imanol Harinordoquy.
Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Nicolas Mas, Romain
Millo-Chluski, Louis Picamoles, Morgan Parra, Benoit Baby,
Cedric Heymans.
Referee:
Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch Judges: Dave Pearson (England), David Changleng
(Scotland)
Television Match Official: Giulio de Santis (Italy)
Assessor: Tappe Henning (South Africa)
Kick-off: 18.00
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