- Title: FRANCE: RUGBY UNION: French and Welsh limber up for Six Nations match
- Date: 8th February 2013
- Summary: SAINT DENIS, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 8, 2013) (REUTERS) FRENCH RUGBY TEAM PREPARING FOR TRAINING VARIOUS OF TEAM HUDDLING TOGETHER TEAM COACHES VARIOUS OF TEAM JOGGING TO WARM UP AHEAD OF TRAINING FRANCE RUGBY COACH PHILIPPE SAINT-ANDRE AT TRAINING TRAINING FRANCE CAPTAIN FOR MATCH AGAINST WALES FLANKER THIERRY DUSAUTOIR DURING TRAINING STADE DE FRANCE VARIOUS OF TRAINING FRENCH RUGBY PLAYER FREDERIC MICHALAK AT TRAINING VARIOUS OF TRAINING VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF WELSH TEAM STRETCHING BEFORE TRAINING RUGBY BALLS VARIOUS OF TRAINING PITCH VARIOUS OF TRAINING SIGN IN STADE DE FRANCE ADVERTISING FRANCE-WALES MATCH STADIUM
- Embargoed: 23rd February 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAM3NTRT7CHT1S60OBLFPUL2TE
- Story Text: Centre Mathieu Bastareaud will start a France game for the first time in almost three years after he was named in the team to take on Wales in the Six Nations championship on Saturday.
Bastareaud, who has been chosen at the expense of Florian Fritz in one of two changes to the side which lost 23-18 in Italy in last Sunday's opener, started his last game with Les Bleus in a 2010 Six Nations match against England.
Manager Philippe Saint-Andre handed Jocelino Suta a start at lock to make up for the absence of Pascal Pape, who pulled out with a back injury.
Bastareaud - who has 10 caps for France - has been rewarded for his strong performances with his club Toulon, who lead the French Top 14.
The 24-year-old had been overlooked in recent years because of poor form after being omitted following off-the-pitch troubles in 2009.
Saint-Andre otherwise kept faith with the team who were outplayed in the shock in Rome.
Ryan Jones will return to captain Wales after Sam Warburton was ruled out through injury.
Jones has recovered from a thumb problem to lead Wales for a record 30th time as blindside flanker along with openside Justin Tipuric, who comes in for the benched Aaron Shingler.
In the only other change from last weekend's 30-22 home defeat by Ireland, the team's eighth loss in a row, Richard Hibbard replaces Matthew Rees at hooker.
Warburton has a stinger injury to nerves in his shoulder.
Centre Jamie Roberts will win his 50th cap.
Teams: France: 15-Yoann Huget, 14-Wesley Fofana, 13-Mathieu Bastareaud, 12-Maxime Mermoz, 11-Benjamin Fall, 10-Frederic Michalak, 9-Maxime Machenaud, 8-Louis Picamoles, 7-Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 6-Fulgence Ouedraogo, 5-Yoann Maestri, 4-Jocelino Suta, 3-Nicolas Mas, 2-Dimitri Szarzewski, 1-Yannick Forestier Replacements: 16-Benjamin Kayser, 17-Vincent Debaty, 18-Luc Ducalcon, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Damien Chouly, 21-Morgan Parra, 22-Francois Trinh-Duc, 23-Florian Fritz Wales: 15-Leigh Halfpenny, 14-Alex Cuthbert, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-George North, 10-Dan Biggar, 9-Mike Phillips, 8-Toby Faletau, 7-Justin Tipuric, 6-Ryan Jones (captain)7, 5-Ian Evans, 4-Andrew Coombs, 3-Adam Jones, 2-Richard Hibbard, 1-Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16-Ken Owens, 17-Paul James, 18-Craig Mitchell, 19-Lou Reed, 20-Aaron Shingler, 21-Lloyd Williams, 22-James Hook, 23-Scott Williams - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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