PHILIPPE SAINT-ANDRE has brought in some fresh bodies to his starting line-up for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Ireland.
The French head coach keeps faith with the same backline that played in last weekend’s 30-12 win over Italy but makes four changes in the forwards.
Biarritz’s Imanol Harinordoquy replaces Julien Bonnaire at flanker after Saint-Andre was critical of his team’s line-outs against the Azzurri, while Vincent Debaty drops down to the bench following his debut and Jean-Baptiste Poux comes in.
Elsewhere, hooker Dimitri Szarzewski takes over from William Servat and Yoann Maestri gets the nod ahead of Lionel Nallet.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney won’t name his team until Thursday ahead of their trip to Paris the following day but one piece of good news is that Keith Earls returns to the squad after missing the defeat to Wales.
France team v Ireland: Maxime Medard, Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Wesley Fofana, Julien Malzieu, Francois Trinh-Duc, Dimitri Yachvili, Louis Picamoles, Imanol Harinordoquy, Thierry Dusautoir (c), Yoann Maestri, Pascal Pape, Nicolas Mas, Dimitri Szarzewski, Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements: William Servat, Vincent Debaty, Lionel Nallet, Julien Bonnaire, Morgan Parra, Lionel Beauxis, Maxime Mermoz.
