France 33 men squad announced for the 6N

Forwards:
LHs : Vincent Debaty (Clermont),Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Yannick Forestier (Castres Olympique)
Hookers: Benjamain Kayser (Clermont), Guilhem Guirado (Perpignan), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing-Métro 92)
THs: David Attoub (Stade Français), Luc Ducalcon (Racing-Métro 92), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan)
Locks: Yoann Maestri (Stade Toulousain), Pascal Papé (captain, Stade Français), Jocelino Suta (Toulon), Romain Taofifenua (Perpignan)
backrowers: Damien Chouly (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Stade Toulousain), Wenceslas Lauret (Biarritz Olympique), Yannick Nyanga (Stade Toulousain), Fulgence Ouedrogo (Montpellier), Louis Picamoles (Stade Toulousain).

Backs:
halves : Maxime Machenaud (Racing-Métro 92), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Frédéric Michalak (Toulon), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier)
centres/wings/fbs etc :
Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Jean-Marcellin Buttin (Clermont), Vincent Clerc (Stade Toulousain), Brice Dulin (Castres Olympique), Benjamain Fall (Racing-Métro 92), Gaël Fickou (Stade Toulousain), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Florian Fritz (Stade Toulousain), Yoann Huget (Stade Toulousain), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon).

a couple of surprises :
- the return of Bastareaud and considering his last 6N was in 2010, it can only be a good sign!
- Maxime Medart not fit enough so enter JM Buttin and Fofana might still start at the wing (as he did in the AIs).
- Pape retains the captainship despite the return of Dusautoir

Backrow will be interesting with Dusautoir back while it worked quite well without him in the AIs. otherwise I expect to see the same team that started most of the games back in november (provided there is no injuries till then).

whocares wrote:- Pape retains the captainship despite the return of Dusautoir

I thought Dusatoir would walk back into the captaincy i have to say. Papé must have seriously impressed St.Andre!

I heard rumours somwhere on the internet, so probabley rubbish, that Rougerie was back and fit. If so, was expecting him in the test squad. All-in-all though, that squad looks absolutley devastating if they're all firing.

Agreed - a slightly terrifying array of talent right there. Strong front row, powerful and agile second row, relentless back row, clever half backs, devastating centres and pace in the back three.

It's between France and England this time round, with France my favourites for the title.

I thought France should be favourites for the title (though not expecting a GS) this time round and that squad only confirms it in my eyes. Interesting to see Pape as captain, I've always felt Dusautoir did a wonderful job in this regards so Pape must have really impressed PSA.

It's a bit hard to predict the selection looking at the AI's with several players switching between bench/starting throughout. I'd go for;

1.Domingo
2.Kayser
3.Mas
4.Pape
5.Maestri
6.Nyanga
7.Dusautoir (though he may well wear 6)
8.Picamoles

9.Parra
10.Michalak

11.Clerc
12.Mermoz
13.Fritz
14.Fofana (shame about Medard as Fofana is exceptional at 12)
15.Dulin (impressive in the AIs)

16.Szarzewski 17.Forrestier 18.Debaty 19.Suta 20.Ouedraogo 21.Machenaud 22.Trinh-Duc 23.Huget

What a squad.

Some interesting calls there.

Jocelino Suta is a surprise.

Buttin Is a great choice, such a talent coming into the line. They look favourites for a GS with that squad.

The French have always been able to produce squads full to the brim with talent, whats been missing is any form of consistency of performance. However, the AI's seemed to show that they had figured this out, and to me, that's the most worrying thing.

Rougerie is coming back from injury but not match fit yet : he's not making the ASM squad for the Exeter game. PSA said that between 2 similar players he will pick the younger one so I think his international days are counted if Fritz keep playing the way he has been earlier this season. Dont think we will see Yachvili and Harinordoquy as well anymore in the French jersey.
Dusautoir is a odd one, also not in great form yet, he might only make the bench against Italy. 15 jersey is up for grab at this stage with Dulin losing a bit of form and Buttin coming back strong. the rest should pick itself.
Somehow France main weakness is now in the front row : the looseheads are not what they used to be (Barcella disapeared from the radar and Domingo is not the same as pre-injury) and they still struggling to find a decent tighthead to replace Mas.

Awesome squad Whocares and I am not looking forward to our trip to Paris - at least for the game part!

Wise choice to keep the captaincy with Pape. Dusautoir and Toulose are not firing on all cylinders at the moment. Also i thought that Picamoles would be an easy pick at 8 but i have been hugely impressed with Clermont's Damien Chuley. He doesnt appear to do as much with the ball as Picamoles but everything he does is done superbly well.
Just watched the ASM Exeter game again and the crucial handling role he had in the first two tries as well as controlling the ball really well for his own try show cased many of his talents.

The riches availabe at 12 are also insane. Mermox was electric against Cardiff but Fofana was even better against Exeter.

I really worry that by the time Scotland get to Paris they will be in such a bad place mentally, and on the championship table, that a 50 point loss could be the outcome!

Thanks whocares.

Nice to have some French input on the forum.

I think France will have a good tournament, but I agree - the front row is not as good as it was. However, look out for Forestier; he is having a good season at Castres.

well, on paper this lot should be unapproachable to us..well, 2 years ago as well to be fair

I hope that Fickou gets on at some point - he's looked absolutely amazing.

Perhaps the France game is finally the chance for the Messiah (aka Mark Bennett) to start for Scotland! He'll have all the inside info on the Clermont players, having watched them play from the stands so often.

I smell a debut coming up!

Imagine having to choose between Fickou, Fofana and Mermoz for the 12 jersey! Graeme Morrison or Sean Lamont anyone??

They don't have to make that decision, they can just go

11- Fofana
12- Fickou
13- Mermoz

Unfortunately

Domingo (Forestier)
Kayser (Szarzewski)
Mas (Attoub)
Pape
Maestri (Suta)
Dusautoir (Ouedraogo)
Nyaga
Picamoles
Parra (Macheneux)
Michalak (FTD)
Fofana
Fickou
Mermoz (Bastareud)
Clerc
Buttin

Is a scary team!

That is a seriously good team CJ, backrow in particular for me. France really should be disappointed with anything other than winning the championship.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Perhaps the France game is finally the chance for the Messiah (aka Mark Bennett) to start for Scotland! He'll have all the inside info on the Clermont players, having watched them play from the stands so often.

I smell a debut coming up!

Imagine having to choose between Fickou, Fofana and Mermoz for the 12 jersey! Graeme Morrison or Sean Lamont anyone??

That's such an unfunny comparison a bit of wee came out.

Have to post this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLlurEwJ7ss

Wham. Take that, Tigers.
And how old is he? 19?

George Carlin wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Perhaps the France game is finally the chance for the Messiah (aka Mark Bennett) to start for Scotland! He'll have all the inside info on the Clermont players, having watched them play from the stands so often.

I smell a debut coming up!

Imagine having to choose between Fickou, Fofana and Mermoz for the 12 jersey! Graeme Morrison or Sean Lamont anyone??

That's such an unfunny comparison a bit of wee came out.

Have to post this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLlurEwJ7ss

Wham. Take that, Tigers.
And how old is he? 19?

yes and the funny thing is that Fickou came straight from Toulon academy and just signed at Toulouse last summer... the sad thing is that he picked up an injury against Treviso and will be out for 4 weeks.