Biarritz back row boost France

Biarritz back row boost France

21 Jun 2006

Bernard Laporte has turned to French domestic champions Biarritz for Saturday’s one-off test against the Springboks in Cape Town.

Laporte has picked the Biarritz 6,7,8 and 9 axis and included Biarritz centre Damien Traille at flyhalf in an experiment designed to give the French back division more physicality at flyhalf.

He has the option of introducing Thomas Castaignede should the experiment not work.

Laporte, who rested several players following a demanding domestic and European season, has relied on the strength of the Toulouse back division, the form of the Biarritz loose-forwards and the power of the Stade Francais front row in finalising his starting XV.

The exception is are Perpignan fullback Laharrague, with the rest of the team coming from Toulouse, Biarritz and Stade.

Laporte has also picked a five forwards to two backs subs bench to counter the physical Bok pack.

France to play Boks:Laharrague (Perpignan), Clerc (Stade Toulousain), Fritz (Stade Toulousain), Jauzion (Stade Toulousain), Heymans (Stade Toulousain), Traille (Biarritz), Yachvili (Biarritz), Dusautoir (Biarritz), Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Betsen (Biarritz), Thion (Biarritz), Pelous (Stade Toulousain, capt), De Villiers (Stade Francais), Szarzewski (Stade Francais) and Marconnet (Stade Francais). Subs: Ibanez (Wasps), Debaty (Perpignan), Nallet (Castres), Bonnaire (Bourgoin), Martin (Stade Francais), Mignoni (Clermont) and Castaignede (Saracens)


9 Comments

  • 1.jonny: Reply to this comment
    21 Jun 2006, 10:21 am

    Strong XV, weak bench

  • 2.Paws: Reply to this comment
    21 Jun 2006, 10:22 am

    Ouch!! .. I see a bad moon rising … I see trouble on the way ..

  • 3.berg_bok: Reply to this comment
    21 Jun 2006, 10:30 am

    Experimenting at flyhalf could be a mistake for the French.

    I hope we’ve learned from our last outing against the french and that we will commit more forwards to the breakdowns to protect the ball and the scrumhalf. They were allowed to disrupt too much. As long as we keep it tight and ball carriers have support close at hand the home ground advantage should be enough.

    This is no time for the boks to get nervous.

  • 4.fabio: Reply to this comment
    21 Jun 2006, 10:34 am

    i have a bad feeling about this one…

  • 5.fabio: Reply to this comment
    21 Jun 2006, 10:35 am

    (from a bokke point of view)

  • 6.berg_bok: Reply to this comment
    21 Jun 2006, 10:39 am

    Nah don’t worry fabio. I’ve got it all worked out you see. From experience it’s become obvious that If I stay at home or go to a pub, get wasted and watch the boks we lose BUT if I got to a mate’s house, get wasted and watch the boks we win!

    So don’t fret. I’m going to watch at a friends house!

    PS. I don’t know what would happen should I not get plastered and watch the game. This is an experiment not attempted before.

  • 7.xsaffa: Reply to this comment
    21 Jun 2006, 10:46 am

    is this it? is this all u can conjure saruman?

  • 8.berg_bok: Reply to this comment
    21 Jun 2006, 10:49 am

    Hehe, funny man xsaffa :)

    Hopefully it won’t be a case of betsen running like a crazed maniac with a torch in his hand igniting the bomb under our asses after that comment!

  • 9.Newks: Reply to this comment
    22 Jun 2006, 12:22 pm

    I’m a big French Rooster Fan strictly for the love of rugby! I come from a Tongan background and I’m Australian born! Imanol Harinodiquy has been playing very well this year and I think he is going to disrupt the Boks defensive and offensive strategy. Always amazed by the form of the Springbok forward pack but this pack seems weakened, I hope Serge Betson (super flanker) comes out in full form this game I’m still reminiscent of his performance in the past.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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