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France selects 14 World Cup runners-up for Six Nations
James Mortimer - (27/01/2012)
New French coach Philippe Saint-Andre has relied on the bulk of the players who lost 8-7 to the All Blacks in the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final ahead of the upcoming Six Nations.
The Toulon back caused a stir back in July of last year when he featured in a photo wearing a fake moko while holding a taiaha.
Overall there are 17 squad members from the World Cup.
Saint-Andre said the non-selection of Palisson was form based, while uncapped lock Yoann Maestri and centre Wesley Fofana are the only players not capped.
"It is quite coherent. Alexis Palisson can be disappointed but we have players who are in great form like Beauxis and Malzieu," Saint-Andre said.
"We will try to use the World Cup squad as a starting point and gradually include some young players with great potential, hoping they will become regulars in four years."
Another controversial player in prop David Attoub has been named, with Luc Ducalcon (considered one of Les Bleus front-line forwards) playing only intermittently this season with Castres.
In December 2009 Attoub was cited for alleged contact with the eye area of Ulster player Stephen Ferris.
In contravention of IRB Law 10.4, he received a record 70 week ban.
"He (Ducalcon) has only played 25 minutes with his club. We wanted to include Attoub, who is a regular starter with Stade Francais as a tighthead prop. And we know the Italians' scrum is very good," said Saint-Andre.
France squad:
Backs - Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili, Franois Trinh-Duc, Lionel Beauxis, Aurelien Rougerie, Maxime Mermoz, Wesley Fofana, Vincent Clerc, Julien Malzieu, Maxime Medard.
Forwards - David Attoub, Vincent Debaty, Nicolas Mas, Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Dimitri Szarzewski, Pascal Pape, Yoann Maestri, Lionel Nallet, Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir, Louis Picamoles, Imanol Harinordoquy
In contravention of IRB Law 10.4, he received a record 70 week ban.
"He (Ducalcon) has only played 25 minutes with his club. We wanted to include Attoub, who is a regular starter with Stade Francais as a tighthead prop. And we know the Italians' scrum is very good," said Saint-Andre.
France squad:
Backs - Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili, Franois Trinh-Duc, Lionel Beauxis, Aurelien Rougerie, Maxime Mermoz, Wesley Fofana, Vincent Clerc, Julien Malzieu, Maxime Medard.
Forwards - David Attoub, Vincent Debaty, Nicolas Mas, Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Dimitri Szarzewski, Pascal Pape, Yoann Maestri, Lionel Nallet, Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir, Louis Picamoles, Imanol Harinordoquy
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