France v Pacific I: Teams
Marc Lievremont has made three changes to the France team that beat Argentina to face the Pacific Islanders.
Last Updated: 14/11/08 9:39am
France coach Marc Lievremont has made three changes to the team that beat Argentina for Saturday's game against the Pacific Islanders in Sochaux.
Lievremont was satisfied enough with his team in their tough 12-6 victory over the Pumas to largely stick to the same team, with just the three changes coming in the forwards.
The two props have changed, with Props Lionel Faure coming in for Fabien Barcella and Nicolas Mas replacing Benoit Lecouls.
A third and final change in the pack comes with Fulgence Ouedraogo replacing Louis Picamoles.
Full-back Mazime Medard did enough on his Test debut to keep hold of his number 15 shirt, while Lievremont's half-back partnership stays in tact with fly-half David Skrela and scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde keeping their places.
Top scorer
There is a strong local feel to the Pacific Islanders side to face France in Sochaux, with seven of the squad plying their trade in the Top 14 or Pro D2.
Free-scoring Napolioni Nalaga and his Fijian team-mate Vilimoni Delasau will certainly be known to French fans.
Clermont's Nalaga was the top try-scorer last season's Top 14 championship, while Delasau, who plays for Montauban, currently tops the charts.
Clermont fly-half Seremaia Bai starts in the No.10 shirt after coming off the bench in the 39-13 defeat to England.
Premiership stars Census Johnston, Kameli Ratuvou and Seilala Mapusua drop to the bench to face France.
France: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Julien Malzieu, 13 Yannick Jauzion, 12 Benoit Baby, 11 Cedric Heymans, 10 David Skrela, 9 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 8 Imanol Harnordoquy, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 5 Lionel Nallet (captain), 4 Romain Millo-Chluski, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Lionel Faure.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Benoit Lecouls, 18 Sebastien Chabal, 19 Louis Picamoles, 20 Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 21 Damien Traille, 22 Alexis Palisson.
Pacific Islanders: 15 Gavin Williams, 14 Napolioni Nalaga, 13 Seru Rabeni, 12 Epi Taione, 11 Vilimoni Delasau, 10 Seremaia Bai, 9 Mosese Rauluni (c), 8 Nili Latu, 7 Sisa Koyamaibole, 6 Hale T-Pole, 5 Kele Leawere, 4 Paino Hehea, 3 Kisi Pulu, 2 Fuga, 1 Lealamanua.
Replacements: 16 Sunia Koto, 17 Census Johnston, 18 Filipo Levi, 19 Viliami Vaki, 20 Sililo Martens, 21 Kameli Ratuvou, 22 Seilala Mapusua.