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Fresh legs for France against All Blacks

Roar Guru
20th June, 2013
2

The contrast in experience will be a feature of the final rugby Test between the All Blacks and France in New Plymouth and no more so than in the respective halves combinations.

New Zealand, seeking a series whitewash after victories in Auckland and Christchurch, welcome back Dan Carter and Piri Weepu to the No.10 and No.9 jerseys.

The pair have 164 caps between them in a starting 15 boasting a combined 620 Tests.

Their opposites in New Plymouth on Saturday night – Remi Tales and Jean-Marc Dussain – have a grand total of three.

Tales made his debut off the bench in the 30-0 defeat in the second Test, while Dussain came on tour with one previous Test – as a substitute in the 2011 World Cup final.

Their inclusion is among eight changes to a French run-on side with 277 caps.

Two of the changes were forced by injuries to the experienced pair of five-eighth Frederic Michalak and No.8 Louis Picamoles, the latter replaced by South African-born Antonie Claassen.

In all, France have just three players with more than 30 caps – skipper and blindside flanker Thierry Dusautoir, prop Nicolas Mas (both with 61) and centre Florian Fritz (31).

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Coach Philippe Saint-Andre said bringing in personnel who were fresh mentally and physically was part of the selection rationale.

“We haven’t played three Test consecutively against the All Blacks since 1968, so it’s new for us,” he said.

“We’ve kept some experience with key players and brought in some players that can bring us creativity and urgency.”

Two areas Saint-Andre wanted improvement in from Christchurch was the kicking game and the lineout, where France lost six of their own throws.

Hooker Dimitri Szarzewski, who had problems finding his jumpers last Saturday night, has been moved to the reserves, with Benjamin Kayser replacing him.

Meanwhile, lock Alexandre Flanquart has been elevated to the run-on side after getting his debut cap off the bench in the opening Test, but sitting out the second.

In the remaining changes, loose forward Damien Chouly, a tour replacement for first Test casualty Fulgence Ouedraogo, gets the No.7 shirt, while Brice Dulin and Marc Andreu come in at fullback and right wing.

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Although the series is gone, Saint-Andre said there remained plenty of motivation for the French.

Simply putting on the Tricolores jersey was one; another was a chance for players to press their claims in the build-up to the 2015 World Cup.

“It will be a fantastic challenge for our players,” Saint-Andre said.

“They just need to have a go and not be scared to play – respect New Zealand, but don’t respect them too much.”

France: Brice Dulin, Marc Andreu, Florian Fritz, Wesley Fofana, Yohann Huget, Remi Tales, Jean Marc Doussain, Antonie Claassen, Damien Chouly, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Yoann Maestri, Alexandre Flanquart, Nicolas Mas, Benjamin Kayser, Thomas Domingo. Reserves: Dimitri Szarzewski, Eddy Ben Arous, Luc Ducalon, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Bernard le Roux, Maxime Machenaud, Camille Lopez, Mathieu Bastareaud.

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