Saint-Andre shuffles France pack

Published: Tuesday, 7. February, 2012 in category France

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made four changes to his starting line-up for the Six Nations clash with Ireland in Paris on Saturday.

Saint-Andre: Has made four changes to his starting line-up

Saint-Andre's tenure got off to a successful start as Les Bleus beat Italy 30-12 in his first game in charge last weekend.

Despite that victory at the Stade de France, the former Sale supremo had hinted he would tinker with his starting XV and all four changes have come in the pack.

In the front-row Jean-Baptiste Poux takes over at loose-head prop from Vincent Debaty, while Dimitri Szarzewski is given the nod at hooker in place of William Servat.

Yoann Maestri of Toulouse has been preferred to veteran Lionel Nallet in the second row and will make his full debut after coming off the bench against Italy, while Imanol Harinordoquy takes over from Julian Bonnaire at flanker.

The back-line remains unchanged with Wesley Fofana retaining his place in the centres alongside Clermont team-mate Aurelien Rougerie following an impressive try-scoring debut last weekend and Francois Trinh-Duc continuing at fly-half.

France: Maxime Medard (Toulouse); Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Aurelien Rougerie (Clermont), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Julien Malzieu (Clermont); Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz); Louis Picamoles (Toulouse), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt); Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (Stade Français); Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Dimitry Szarzewski (Stade Français), Jean Baptiste Poux (Toulouse).

Replacements: William Servat (Toulouse), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Lionel Nallet (Racing-Metro), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Lionel Beauxis (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan).