His hand forced by necessity, France rugby coach Philippe Saint-Andre has returned to the halfback combination that carried the team to their last Six Nations grand slam.
With veteran halfback Dimitri Yachvili suffering a back problem, Morgan Parra will line up alongside five-eighth Francois Trinh-Duc at Stade de France against Ireland on Saturday in the showdown between the pre-tournament favourites.
But the Irish can call upon the experienced Keith Earls to fill in for injured centre Brian O’Driscoll and are confident of improving upon the narrow opening loss against Wales.
While Rugby World Cup finalists France beat Italy 30-12 last weekend in Saint-Andre’s debut, Ireland lost 23-21 following a late penalty awarded against Stephen Ferris for an alleged tip tackle.
The return of Earls, a specialist winger who pulled out of last weekend’s match because his newborn child was ill, means coach Declan Kidney has selected the same 22 he originally chose to face Wales.
“There’s a lot we have to improve on,” Ireland captain Paul O’Connell said.
“Some of the silly errors we made against Wales we must cut out.
“Against France away from home you need to start well. It’s frustrating that I haven’t beaten France in Paris, but we have a team that can do it.”
That’s a bold call considering much of the squad has been involved in a run of 11 defeats in 12 matches against France, unbeaten against the Irish at Stade de France since a 27-25 upset in 2000.
O’Connell’s win rate of just 8.33 per cent against France is his worst against any side other than world champions New Zealand.
Ferris was cited but cleared of the offence and is free to take his place in Ireland’s backrow against a side that could contain two players convicted of gouging him.
Saint-Andre has called up Julien Dupuy as injury cover, two years after the scrumhalf missed the 2010 Six Nations because of a 24-week ban for gouging the Ulster flanker. France’s squad also contains prop David Attoub, who received an even longer ban for gouging – also on Ferris. Attoub’s initial 70-week ban was reduced to 52 weeks.
With 70,000 fans set to roar on Italy in their first Six Nations match at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, England coach Stuart Lancaster is sticking with the team that beat Scotland.
Lancaster is trusting his young talent can again overcome a deficit in experience.
With the likes of Owen Farrell, Brad Barritt, Phil Dowson and Mauritz Botha keeping their spots, England’s starting 15 boast just 251 caps.
“We are expecting our bench to come on and make an impact as they did last week,” Lancaster said.
“Italy will be a very difficult challenge with nearly 700 caps in their starting lineup.”
Veteran Italy centre Gonzalo Canale believes they have a great chance of beating the defending champions for the first time in 18 Tests.
“I believe we can do it and all the team really believes we can do it,” Canale said.
Scotland travel to Wales and, in a sign the visitors will attempt to match the home side’s free-flowing approach to the game, the Scots have asked for a closed roof at Millennium Stadium.
The Welsh have problems in the second row with Bradley Davies joining the injured Luke Charteris and Alun-Wyn Jones on the sidelines with a seven-week ban for a tip tackle on Donnacha Ryan.
Former captain Ryan Jones has switched from the back to Davies’ No.4 shirt.
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