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Lievremont has expressed concerns that French overconfidence could be their downfall. Christophe Ena/AP/Press Association Images
Game on

France name unchanged line-up as Lievremont sticks to winning formula

In addition, Wales coach Shaun Edwards has rejected the suggestion that France lack consistency at the best of times.

FRANCE COACH MARC Lievremont has opted to pick an unchanged line-up ahead of their World Cup semi-final with Wales at the weekend.

It means Francois Trinh-Duc must be content with a place on the bench, despite playing an important role in the latter stages of his side’s quarter-final victory over England.

Lievremont, meanwhile, has yet to confirm his bench because of injury concerns, with both Fulgence Ouedraogo and Jean-Marc Doussain on standby.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the game, the France coach warned his team to be cautious ahead of the encounter. He said:

“The danger is for the players to start thinking they are too good…we are Latin, so there is always a risk.”

In addition, Wales coach Shaun Edwards has dismissed suggestions that France lack consistency and have only once big game in them, saying:

“If you look at France in the Six Nations over the last five or six years… they have won it the most.”

The two teams meet on Saturday, with France the far more experienced of the two sides.

Wales have an average age of just 25, while the France team named for the game have 687 caps between them.

France team: Maxime Medard; Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson; Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili; Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Nicolas Mas, Pascal Pape, Lionel Nallet, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Julien Bonnaire, Imanol Harinordoquy.

Replacements (from): Dimitri Szarzewski, Fabien Barcella, Julien Pierre, Louis Picamoles, Francois Trinh-Duc, David Marty, Cedric Heymans, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Jean-Marc Doussain.

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