Liévremont strikes again

Well here we go, that great whacky mind has once again come up with some brilliant ideas in his 32 man squad for the world cup. First, the full squad:


Front row: Fabien Barcella (Biarritz), Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Toulouse), William Servat (Toulouse), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français), Luc Ducalcon (Castres), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Sylvain Marconnet (Biarritz)
Second row: Pascal Papé (Stade Français), Julien Pierre (Clermont), Romain Millo-Chluski (Toulouse), Lionel Nallet (Racing-Métro 92)
Back row: Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse/Cap), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Raphaël Lakafia (Biarritz), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)
Scrum halves: Morgan Parra (Clermont), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz)
Fly halves: David Skrela (Toulouse), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier)
Centres: Fabrice Estebanez (Brive), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan), David Marty (Perpignan), Aurélien Rougerie (Clermont)
Full back/wing: Maxime Médard (Toulouse), Alexis Palisson (Brive), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Bayonne), Cédric Heymans (Toulouse), Damien Traille (Biarritz)

Now some thoughts.
1) Only two hookers? Really? Conventional wisdom usually includes three. On the other hand he has six props, I assume because of the injury doubts over Domingo and Barcella. Maybe if one of them can't make it he'll draft in a third hooker (probably Guirrado from Perpignan). Among the props, Marconnet is past it, think Schuster would have been a better choice.
2) Second row is fine, and entirely as expected.
3) Back row. No Chabal is a surprise, but a good move IMO as he looked slow and past it in the 6N, while Picamoles is a player I've always rated highly. Surprised to see him there as Lièvremont hasn't picked him for a bit, but very happy. Lakafia i confess to not knowing much about, so I'll reserve judgement. Would have liked to see Lapandry from Clermont included, but other than that happy with the back row.
4) Only two scrum halves. This was expected I think, but could (as with Hooker) be a risky ploy. If one of the two picks up a small knock they could be in trouble (no one else in the squad covers there).
5) Would rather have seen Wizniewski from Racing in the squad ahead of Skrela. TBH I was half expecting Lièvremont to go in with only Trinh-Duc as specialist fly-half, with Estebanez and Traille as the back-ups. Glad he didn't...
6) Centres. Where to start? What has Estebanez shown that suggests he is remotely up to international level? Why suddenly drop Jauzion, who was hardly the worst in the 6N and has the vital experience at this level? Never really been convinced by Marty either, would much rather have seen Florian Fritz there. Also they are fitness doubts over Mermoz and Rougerie (the latter being at present unlikely to make it).
7) Back three. Again, Huget and Palisson aren't good enough, Malzieu and even Andreu are far better players. Heymans is a surprise as he hasn't played for France for two years, but he's a good player and has been playing well at Toulouse. Médard and Clerc are indisputable of course. I hope we don't get to see Traille at full-back (he's a centre!). Harsh on Poitrenaud, but his atrocious 6N has accounted for him.

Your thoughts? Will this selection turn out to be a masterstroke or is it one more in a long list of whacky moves by the great Lièvremont?

I have to agree that some selections are strange. Six props when every other position, especially the half-backs and hooker slots, only has two players each seems ridiculous. I don't know how he can justify dropping Jauzion who is an excellent player.

Chabal’s omission is no surprise, the only thing that surprises me is the hype he receives from NH fans.

Jauzion’s absence is a surprise, though less is Basteraud’s….he’s still probably banned from NZ after being beaten to a pulp by the phantom fairies in Wellington

Looks like typical Lievremont’s hijinks and japes at work here

Definitely agree that Chabal's time has passed.

Jauzion is certainly a surprise and must feel a bit hard done by.

Personally I don't rate Skrela that highly.

Whilst I have a lot of sympathy for Basteraud, and admire his resilience in overcoming depression, he looks obese! Have heard he's playing for the Barbarians (may be wrong) but if I were him I would be concentrating on a pastry free pre-season!

Loki,

yeah Bastareaud is unfit, he was told so by the French management but doesn't seem to have changed at all. Reminds me of Samit Patel (England cricketer).

Surely Jauzion has to be a better option than Estebanez?!?!

For what it's worth, the changes I'd have made to the squad are as follows:

Guirrado for Marconnet
Lapandry for Lakafia
Wizniewski for Skrela
Jauzion and Fritz for Estebanez and Marty
Poitrenaud and Malzieu for Palisson and Huget

According to the BBC website he has picked Guilhem Guirado. Not saying that they are correct but they have him listed as one of the 32.

Agree with not picking Chabel, looked way past his best during the 6N and will never understand his picks in the backs, especially the centers and back 3. Would like to say that I’m surprised that Jauzion wasn't selected but it’s Lievremont so I’m not. Think Heymens is a good pick, more solid defensively than either Poitrenaud or Médard (better on the wing for me). It was the first time I’d seen Heymans for a while against Leinster in the HC semi – thought he had put some pounds on, especially for a wing/full back. Then again he played pretty well so what do I know!

Ah well I was going with what French sportspaper L'équipe says in their main article here, but it could be wrong I suppose.

Have just checked Le Monde, and they also have Barcella in and not Guirado, so I'm assumong this is right...

Although I don't agree with many of his squad picks, you can still form a pretty decent 22 from the players he has picked..

Domingo, Servat, Mas
Nallet, Pierre
Dusautoir, Harinordoquy, Bonnaire
Parra, Trinh-Duc
Mermoz, Rougerie
Medard, Heymans, Clerc

Szarzewski, Barcella, Milo-Cluski, Picamoles
Yachvili, Traille, Palisson/Huget (don't rate either of them).

Good team on paper but many players with serious injury concerns, potenially 5 of that 22 have long term injuries.

Yeh I think the 32 is provisional upon injuries and the 30 man squad will be announced in August.

So 2 will miss out.

I never really rated Chabal in the first place. Yes he made big hits and occasionally carried well, but France had far better back rows throughout his career.

Cat

Have to agree, he looks great on the pitch but generally hasn't lived up to his "caveman" physique.

Fun to watch when he gets running mind!

Also from all interviews I've read he seems like a modest bloke.

I remember a few years ago in either Lansdowne Road or Croke Park (at least Ireland were at home) Ireland playing France. Chabal collected the kick-off at the start and got nailed by Donnacha O'Callaghan (I think) and was driven back about 10 metres to huge roars from the home crowd. He didn't look so tough then!

Cat

Ha! Sounds about right, he has got an extremely low body fat percentage and isn't the bulkiest of players either. Add into the mix a high centre of gravity and he has been driven back in the tackle more than his apparent size should warrant.

There's a great clip somewhere of Jerry Collins pitting in a shuddering hit on him. He gets back up mind, eventually...