France make 10 changes from the side that started last Saturday's 49-24 victory over Italy in Genoa for this weekend's opening Five Nations Championship match with Ireland at Lansdowne Road. Only five players, hooker and captain Raphael Ibanez, out-half Thomas Castaignede, centres Franck Comba and Richard Dourthe and fullback Emile N'Tamack have been retained.

Flanker Marc Lievremont and loose-head prop Christian Califano were introduced as replacements on Saturday and they have been promoted to the starting line-up. Injury and unavailability precluded several players from participating against the Italians while the French selectors also decided to view a selection of the fringe personnel within the squad in a competitive environment.

Comba and Stade Francais team-mate, left wing Thomas Lombard, will make their Five Nations debuts on Saturday. N'Tamack, an outstanding performer against the Italians, has shrugged off a knee injury and will continue in his new role of fullback. Castaignede effectively proved that he has fully recovered from a shoulder operation that sidelined him for the internationals against Argentina and Australia.

Philippe Bernat-Salles, who missed the Test in Genoa, is preferred to Xavier Garbajosa on the right wing. French team manager Jo Maso explains: "Bernat-Salles was our best try scorer last season and therefore his presence is logical."

The granite chiselled physiques of props Christian Califano and Franck Tournaire have been restored to the front row, the former after a long absence from the international arena. Fabien Pelous and Olivier Brouzet form a powerful and mobile second row pairing. The Lievremont brothers, Mark and Thomas are restored to the back-row alongside excellent open-side flanker Olivier Magne.

Maso offered a tiny insight into France's game plan for Saturday when explaining the selection of Thomas Lievremont at number eight, ahead of World Cup veteran Philippe Bennetton who captained the team against Italy. "Thomas has a great capacity for chasing the rival scrum-half. It is important that he should be there because we want to stop Ireland from developing their kicking game."

France has suffered only one defeat under Ibanez's captaincy, against Australia (32-21) earlier in the season. They will arrive at Lansdowne Road hoping to take the first step en route to a third successive Grand Slam. Despite the expectations, Maso injects a cautionary note: "This is a balanced and strong team because we expect a tough challenge from the Irish at home.

"We must be ready for a big fight. We have found a balance between power and speed because we want to develop an expansive and varied game." The French arrive in Dublin at lunchtime today.

Meanwhile, Ireland team manager Donal Lenihan was satisfied after the team's training session at Dr Hickey Park in Greystones yesterday. "It was a good session. We were finally able to concentrate on rugby rather than the niggling injuries of recent days," he said

He confirmed that Ulster second row Gary Longwell is out of the A match at Donnybrook tomorrow with a shoulder injury and will be replaced by Lansdowne's Gabriel Fulcher. Jimmy Duffy of Galwegians has been drafted onto the bench.

One could not help noticing the confidence and quiet air of purpose that pervaded Dr Hickey Park as the team enjoyed a short, sharp session. The emphasis was on organisation and co-ordinating specific gambits within an overall team pattern. Lenihan conceded: "I think that the preparations have gone well. We recognise that France were very impressive in their win over Italy and we have nothing but respect for their ability.

"But between Munster, Leinster and Ulster this season, 15 of the preliminary French squad named for the Five Nations have been beaten on their last visit to Ireland. That is a huge psychological boost for the players. I think that has taken some of the awe out of the French jersey. Our players are more familiar with them and they don't hold the same mystique as they might have in the past."

Ireland will again train briefly at Greystones today in a closed session before moving to the Berkeley Court Hotel. They will have a short workout at Lansdowne Road tomorrow.