News: France drop Elissalde and recall
Harinordoquy; Umaga in Toulon squad
29 January 2009
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Down and out: Jean-Baptiste
Elissalde has been dropped
Photo: Michael Paler |
Veteran
French scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde has been
surprisingly dropped from Marc Lièvremont's Six Nations
squad.
The
Toulouse utility back, who can also play at fly-half, was
omitted from Lièvremont's trimmed down squad of 23 after
having spent three days training with the original squad of
30.
His
exclusion caps a poor week for Elissalde after he missed
five out of six penalties against Bath in their crucial
Heineken Cup clash.
To
compound a miserable seven days he is also now doubtful for
the club's Top 14 trip to Biarritz on Saturday after picking
up an ankle injury - while training with the national squad
this week.
Lièvremont explained his decision by saying it was time to
bed-in his other two scrum-halves - Morgan Parra and
Sebastien Tillous-Borde.
"The
non-selection of Jean-Baptiste is less of a reflection of
the hierarchy than in other positions," said the French
coach.
"Morgan
and Sebastien have been part of the group for a year.
They've confirmed their potential at their clubs. We have 25
matches to go before the World Cup. It's time to break them
in. We have confidence in them," added Lièvremont.
"We know
about Jean-Baptiste's talent and control and the impact he
has on the group. He can reintegrate with the group at any
time."
Elissalde had been France's first choice scrum-half for the
past five years.
Lièvremont's decision means France's Six Nations squad has
only one recognised fly-half, in the shape of Stade
Francais' Lionel Beauxis.
Clermont
duo Aurélien Rougerie and Julien Bonnaire, Biarritz lock
Jerome Thion and Perpignan hooker were also deemed surplus
to requirements. Young backs Alexis Palisson and Maxime
Mermoz were left out too.
There
was, however, a surprise recall for Biarritz's Imanol
Harinordoquy, who hadn't been in the original 30 but who has
impressed since recently returning from injury.
Meanwhile, Elissalde's club coach Guy Noves has confirmed
that he will continue his never-ending search for
improvement by heading a Toulouse delegation to New
Zealand next week.
The
veteran coach will be accompanied by Byron Kelleher as they
go on a fact-finding mission to Super 14 outfit the Chiefs,
the former All Black's previous club.
Physiotherapist Christophe Foucault and forwards coach
Yannick Bru will also be on the trip.
"We're
going to make use of this visit to see how the club
functions on the sporting and medical side, but also the
administrative side," said Noves.
"We'll
be trying to enrich our knowledge and exchange points of
view," he added.
Meanwhile, Cardiff Blues have confirmed that
their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Stade Toulousain on
April 11 will take place at the Millennium Stadium.
Another
former All Black in the news this week is Tana Umaga, the
Toulon coach who is planning a playing return in a bid to
help his team avoid relegation to Pro D2.
The
veteran centre, 35, has named himself in the squad to play
fellow relegation strugglers Mont-de-Marsan on Friday - a
vital match that could have a crucial bearing on both club's
survival hopes.
The
ex-All Black captain, who retired from playing in 2007, has
denied that his decision was forced on him by club president
Mourad Boudjellal.
"Mourad
mentioned something about it a while ago. But this is my
decision," he insisted to L'Equipe. I want to be able
to say to myself that I did everything I could to help this
team, this club. and not think 'Ah, if only I had...'
"I had
to give myself time to come to a mature decision. I spoke
with my family and those close to me. But putting my boots
back on was one of the possibilities, especially if the club
are going to stay in the top flight. In life, to get what
you want you have to make sacrifices," said Umaga.
He said
his weight was the same as when he last played - 100kg - but
added that the crucial factor he would bring to the team was
experience.
"It is
clear: the team lack experience and I have it. The team
lacks leadership and I have it. The team is missing me so I
am coming back. Without a leader, in certain situations, the
team panics. I hope to reverse that tendency but I know I
will not be perfect," he added.
Elsewhere, current All Black fly-half Dan Carter says
he is "loving" his experience in France with Perpignan.
"It's
been a great move," said the Kiwi number 10 who is expected
to make his playing comeback this weekend after missing
USAP's last two matches in the Heineken Cup.
"I'm
really happy with my decision and I'm absolutely loving my
time in France," he confirmed.
"I've
been playing Super Rugby for six seasons already, it's good
to get away and do something different from a rugby-playing
point of view, whilst the lifestyle in France was also an
attraction for me.
"I
wanted a change and it's exactly what I've got; moving from
New Zealand to France, you couldn't get more different in
terms of lifestyle," he said.
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