MORGAN PARRA AND Frederic Michalak will start France’s must-win match against Ireland in rugby’s Six Nations championships this weekend, coach Philippe Saint-Andre announced this morning.

France go into the match at Landsdowne Road, Dublin, rooted to the bottom of the table in their worst start in the tournament since 1982 and are out to avoid landing their first wooden spoon since 1957.

Les Bleus, however, have the psychological advantage of knowing that they have only lost once to Ireland in their last 13 Tests — the Irish’s Grand Slam victory in 2009.

Declan Kidney named his side earlier in the week, apart from the 10, which he is expected to confirm today.

France XV to play against Ireland on Saturday, (15-1): Yoann Huget; Vincent Clerc, Florian Fritz, Wesley Fofana, Maxime Medard; Frederic Michalak, Morgan Parra; Thiery Dusautoir (capt), Louis Picamoles, Yannick Nyanga; Yoann Maestri, Christophe Samson; Nicolas Mas, Benjamin Kayser, Thomas Domingo.

Replacements: Guilhem Guirado, Vincent Debaty, Luc Ducalcon, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Antonie Claassen, Maxime Machenaud, Francois Trinh-Duc, Mathieu Bastareaud.

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