France drop Trinh-Duc and Parra for England clash

 

Wednesday 07 March 2012 07:08 EST
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Francois Trinh-Duc, along with Morgan Parra, paid the price for an erratic display at home to Ireland
Francois Trinh-Duc, along with Morgan Parra, paid the price for an erratic display at home to Ireland (Getty Images)

France half-backs Francois Trinh-Duc and Morgan Parra have been dropped for the RBS 6 Nations clash against England in Paris on Sunday.

Both players have paid the price for an erratic team display during last weekend's 17-17 draw at home to Ireland, a result that cost Les Bleus any chance of the Grand Slam.

Coach Philippe Saint-Andre has handed former Leicester scrum-half Julien Dupuy the number nine shirt, with Toulouse's Lionel Beauxis featuring at fly-half.

Saint-Andre has otherwise retained the side on duty against Ireland, including centre Aurelien Rougerie, who had been widely expected to be left out after an error-strewn display against Ireland.

Victory for France over England would keep them in the Six Nations title hunt ahead of facing Grand Slam-chasing Wales in Cardiff on Saturday week.

France team: C Poitrenaud (Toulouse); V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), W Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne); L Beauxis (Toulouse), J Dupuy (Stade Francais); J-B Poux (Toulouse), D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), N Mas (Perpignan), P Pape (Stade Francais), Y Maestri (Toulouse), T Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz).

Replacements: W Servat (Toulouse), V Debaty (Clermont Auvergne), L Nallet (Racing Metro), L Picamoles (Toulouse), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), M Mermoz (Perpignan).

PA

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