Sport

Laporte introduces four new boys for Six Nations

FRANCE: France coach Bernard Laporte picked four newcomers yesterday in his 40-man squad for next month's Six Nations.

Fri Jan 05 2007 - 00:00

FRANCE:France coach Bernard Laporte picked four newcomers yesterday in his 40-man squad for next month's Six Nations.

Centre Romain Cabannes and hooker Benoit August, who play for champions Biarritz, and Clermont prop Laurent Emmanuelli and fullback Anthony Floch were the uncapped players named.

Saracens outhalf Thomas Castaignede was selected despite a thigh injury. Captain Fabien Pelous was also included even though he will be sidelined for several weeks with an ankle injury.

Outhalf Frederic Michalak was left out because of a knee injury and is unlikely to play in the competition. But Laporte was hopeful he would be fit for the World Cup in September.

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Several players returned to the squad, including the powerful Sale flanker Sebastien Chabal and the Toulouse fullback Clement Poitrenaud.

FORWARDS: D Szarzewski (Stade Français), R Ibanez (Wasps), S Bruno (Sale), S Marconnet (Stade Français), P De Villiers (Stade Français), O Milloud (Bourgoin), N Mas (Perpignan), J-B Poux (Toulouse), F Pelous (Toulouse), J Thion (Biarritz), G Lamboley (Toulouse), L Nallet (Castres), P Pape (Castres), S Betsen (Biarritz), J Bonnaire (Bourgoin), T Dusautoir (Toulouse), Y Nyanga (Toulouse), R Martin (Stade Français), S Chabal (Sale), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), E Vermeulen (Clermont), L Emmanuelli (Clermont), B August (Biarritz). BACKS: D Yachvili (Biarritz), J-B Elissalde (Toulouse), P Mignoni (Clermont), D Traille (Biarritz), D Skrela (Stade Français), B Boyet (Bourgoin), R Cabannes (Biarritz), Y Jauzion (Toulouse), F Fritz (Toulouse), D Marty (Perpignan), V Clerc (Toulouse), C Dominici (Stade Français), A Rougerie (Clermont), C Heymans (Toulouse), T Castaignede (Saracens), C Poitrenaud (Toulouse), A Floch (Clermont).

TALY: Winger Ludovico Nitoglia has been ruled out of the Six Nations because of a shoulder injury.

The 23-year-old Calvisano player requires a second operation on his right shoulder after surgery in the summer proved unsuccessful.

Azzurri coach Pierre Berbizier is hopeful Nitoglia will recover in time to play in the World Cup.

Italy open their Six Nations campaign at home to France on February 3rd.

ENGLAND: The New England outhalf Shane Geraghty says he is in a "dream world" following his selection in the Six Nations squad.

"At the time I was doing some shopping," the 20-year-old London Irish halfback told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"(Exiles coach) Brian Smith phoned me to say, 'You're in the England squad' but I thought he meant the Saxons.

"I was so happy but then I got another call to confirm I was in the first team, and then I was even more shocked. I've been in a dream world since."

Geraghty was included in a new-look 33-man senior squad as head coach Brian Ashton seeks to arrest a dismal run.

The Coventry-born player represented Ireland at under-16 but has since represented England under-18s, -19s and -21s. And despite his Irish heritage, Geraghty had no qualms about wearing the white of England.

"I did play for Ireland but I have been through the academy system here and I have lived here my whole life so this is where my heart is," he added.

AUSTRALIA: Winger Lote Tuqiri and three other players have been sent home from a Wallabies training camp after failing fitness tests, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said yesterday.

Tuqiri, utility back Mark Gerrard, centre Morgan Turinui and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau will return to their Super 14 teams for extra training.

"We set some standards for this camp at the end of the spring tour and the four players have been sent home for failing to meet those standards," the Australia coach John Connolly said.