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Rugby Union

France ring changes for Ireland

06/02/2007

France have made five changes to their Six Nations line-up to face Ireland this weekend.

The French, second-favourites behind their opponents this Sunday, cruised past Italy in Rome last week but are still keen to bring in fresh players to face the more daunting challenge that Ireland present.

Three of the five changes are in the pack, with Olivier Milloud, Jerome Thion and Julien Bonnaire replaced by Sylvain Marconnet, Pascal Pape and Imanol Harinordoquy.

Man-of-the-match against Italy, Sebastien Chabal, moves from number eight to open-side flanker to allow Harinordoquy to play in his customary position at in the centre of the back row, although Marconnet and Pape are direct replacements in the front row and at lock, respectively.

Centre Florian Fritz and winger Cedric Heymans are the two changes in the backs, the pair being replaced by David Marty and Vincent Clerc.

"The players who are going to start the match on Sunday will be very eager to show that they are as good as the ones who won in Rome last Saturday," said France coach Bernard Laporte.

"They know they are in competition with one another."

The game will be Ireland's first international home match since they left Lansdowne Road in the autumn. The team will play their home fixtures at Gaelic football venue Croke Park until the renovation of the old Dublin ground is complete.

Full France XV to play Ireland:

Clement Poitrenaud; Vincent Clerc; David Marty; Yannick Jauzion; Arturo Dominici; David Skrela; Pierre Mignoni; Sylvain Marconnet; Raphael Ibanez (captain); Pieter de Villiers; Lionel Nallet; Pascal Pape; Serge Betsen; Imanol Harinordoquy; Sebastien Chabal.
Replacements: Sebastien Bruno; Olivier Milloud; Jerome Thion; Julien Bonnaire; Dmitri Yachvili; Lionel Beauxis; Cedric Heymans.

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