Two changes for Les Bleus

Andreu and Marty set to face Italy

Last updated: 10th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Two changes for Les Bleus

Andreu: Starting debut

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France coach Marc Lievremont has opted to make just two changes to his line-up for the visit of Italy to Paris in the RBS Six Nations on Sunday.

Winger Marc Andreu will make his starting debut after being selected ahead of Julien Malzieu, while centre David Marty comes in for Mathieu Bastareaud.

Andreu had previously made a three-minute cameo in the wing over Wales, while the experienced Marty is called in as the powerful Bastareaud has been struggling with a calf injury.

Malzieu and Bastareud, though, are named on the bench alongside the recalled Dimitri Yachvili.

Biarritz No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy had been doubt for the match after picking up a back injury, however he has been passed fit.

"There are only two changes in the back line, with David Marty and Marc Andreu, who has had an excellent season with Castres and played only three minutes in Cardiff," Lievremont said.

"We thought about rotating the forwards but we favored a form of continuity."

Victory for Les Bleus would see them close in on their first Grand Slam since 2004.

France: 15 Clement Poitrenaud, 14 Marc Andreu, 13 David Marty, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (capt), 5 Julien Pierre, 4 Lionel Nallet, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Sebastien Chabal, 19 Alexandre Lapandry, 20 Dimitri Yachvili, 21 Mathieu Bastareaud, 22 Julien Malzieu.