<< OLBG Betting News Index
France Make Changes Ahead Of Ireland Clash
Friday 08 February 2008 at 11:16
French rugby coach Marc Lievremont has made changes to his starting side after injury meant that one of his top players is now out of action.
Lievremont has lost wing Julien Malzieu due to a thigh injury so he has been replaced with Vincent Clerc, who was originally put on the bench.
He has brought in number eight Julien Bonnaire, lock Arnaud Mela (who is replacing Loic Jacquet), hooker Dimitri Szarzewski and prop Nicolas Mas, who is now at tight-head instead of Julien Brugnaut.
David Skrela is now at fly-half instead of Francois Trinh-Duc and Aurelien Rougerie is on the right wing.
France scored an impressive 27-6 victory over Scotland last weekend and despite the changes they are favourites (1/6, William Hill) to beat Ireland on Saturday (February 9th).
Lievremont defended his changes, saying that they "reward the state of spirit among the replacements before and during the Scotland match," BBC Sport reports.
France remain favourites with Paddy Power at 4/5 to win the Six Nations on March 15th.
|