France coach Bernard Laporte has named two uncapped players, William Servat and Pascal Pape, in his squad for the opening Six Nations Championship match against Ireland at Stade de France on Saturday week.
Toulouse hooker Servat will battle with his club-mate Yannick Bru for the starting jersey, although it's likely he will be named among the replacements. Bru was in the French squad for last year's World Cup and following the departure of former captain Raphael Ibanez - now at Saracens - should be first choice.
Pape's place in the squad can be attributed to injuries to Jerome Thion, who started in the World Cup alongside Fabien Pelous, and Olivier Brouzet, who was also in Australia. Thion is out for six months with a leg injury while Brouzet is still recovering from a shoulder injury.
Pape was on the bench when Munster beat Bourgoin in the European Cup at Thomond Park last weekend and took no part in the proceedings. Laporte will have been heartened by the return of his captain Fabien Pelous. The Toulouse second row returned to action against Edinburgh at the weekend.
The 30-year-old has won 86 caps for France and has led his country on 15 occasions between 1997 and 2003. He took over from Fabien Galthie when the scrumhalf was injured for the last three matches of the 2003 championship.
Galthie's decision to retire means it is probably going to be a straight fight between Biarritz's Dimitri Yachvili and Jean Baptiste Elissalde of Toulouse for the number nine jersey, assuming Freddie Michalak continues at outhalf. Yachvili and Elissalde are place-kickers - judging by recent performances at club level Yachvili can hardly be considered reliable - and would offer back-up to Michalak. The fact Elissalde and Michalak link up at club level could see them get the international ticket as a half-back partnership.
Laporte must plan without centre Tony Marsh who is sidelined with an achilles tendon injury. Up front Peter de Villiers is recalled after missing last season's Six Nations through suspension, having tested positive following a drugs test. The South African-born tighthead prop missed the World Cup after breaking his collar bone in falling off a bike at France's training camp prior to the tournament.
Veteran loosehead and Agen captain Jean Jacques Crenca is perhaps a little fortunate to have retained his place. There is a recall for Biarritz captain and number eight Thomas Lievremont, who led his team into the play-offs of the European Cup.
Flying Toulouse wing Vincent Clerc has also been restored to the squad while Laporte has kept faith in the mercurial Stade Francais wing Christophe Dominici.
Ireland won't hold any fears for the French after they thrashed Eddie O'Sullivan's team 43-21 in the World Cup quarter-final. French team manager Jo Maso was diplomatic. "We need a good start to the championship after a World Cup in which we showed good things. The Irish will be different from the World Cup and we should not use that game as a reference. It will be harder, I believe."
FRANCE SQUAD: Forwards: P De Villiers (Stade Francais), Y Bru (Toulouse), S Marconnet (Stade Francais), J-J Crenca (Agen), W Servat (Toulouse), F Pelous (Toulouse, capt), D Auradou (Stade Francais), P Pape (Bourgoin), O Magne (Montferrand), I Harinordoquy (Pau), S Betsen (Biarritz), T Lievremont (Biarritz). Backs: N Brusque (Biarritz), V Clerc (Toulouse), P Elhorga (Agen), Y Jauzion (Toulouse), B Liebenberg (Stade Francais), D Traille (Pau), J-B Elissalde (Toulouse), D Yachvili (Biarritz), F Michalak (Toulouse), C Dominici (Stade Francais).
