France

pierredelot1 says...

Hardly a suprise that Fritz not in the mix, a great club player but short on pace and can give the odd penalty away too.(Anger management course perhaps) Delighted to see Nyanga back great pace and commitment. Dupuy unlucky but overall a good squad should sort out the men from the boys in the tournament. Poitrenaud deserves a recall but still subject to the odd flaky moment. Barcella should be back to full fitness to show what a great prop he is. Wasn't a fan of Rougerie but have to say he's proved me wrong although why the hell he left it so late to move to centre is beyond me. Beauxis has been back to his best over the last few games for Toulouse, but played pretty vin ordinaire for most of his time at Stade Francais so he has a lot to prove, one swallow doesn't make a summer.

PDL

Posted 00:53 10th January 2012

java49 says...

Very strong squad, but leaving out Florian Fritz is a mistake

Posted 02:24 06th January 2012

Bones7 says...

I would have preferred Estebanez to Mermoz, he looks fantastic every time he plays but somehow doesn't get a look in. Fritz is unlucky too i think but it's not a bad side by any means. Nice to see Nyanga back in the mix, he was meant to be the next big thing a few years back. I'm going to back him to do a Harinordoquy and re-emerge as a real force having had a few quiet years.

Posted 21:13 05th January 2012

moutaye says...

At least it's not one of these nonsense selection Lievremont was picking up. And apart from Fritz this is pretty much spot on IMHO.

As per winning the 6N, there's nothing more uncertain. This team is only on the paper for now. New squad, New players: New balance to find.

Wait and see.

Posted 17:44 05th January 2012

APV1 says...

Oł est l'homme des cavernes??

Posted 17:19 05th January 2012

Rosbif says...

Feel for Nallet. Thought he played really well at RWC. But he'll be 39 next world cup, so I guess loses out to the 23 year-old Maestri, (bit like Easter for England - the form man, but wrong side of 35). Yach probably a little lucky to keep his place in my opinion. Dupuy must be not far behind I imagine. Other big surprise for me was Fritz not making the cut. He's been on superb form in T14. You can hardly say the same for Mermoz, talented though he is. (Looks like PSA has taken two 12s and two 13s, hence Fritz was not going head-to-head with Mermoz?) Happy to see Ouedraogo and Nyanga there. Mnid you, tough back-row to break into, and Picamoles is a good impact player to have from the bench. Seems like there are lots of Toulouse and Clermont players overall. Also, Domingo presumably to return. That would make 20 out of 30 from the two clubs. PSA playing it safe? Or wants a "spine" in his team? Or doesn't want to look too much at Toulon for fear of being criticsed for favouritism? Who knows??

My preferred team would be same as papachinzo except I'd prefer Bonnaire at 7, T-Duc at 10, and Rougerie (at 13) instead of Mermoz, as carpelone suggests for the Clermont connection. Having said that, Yann David is having a great season, so maybe we see him with Fofana vs Italy as a chance to grab the shirt. Two on-form 23 year olds in the centre? What could possibly go wrong......

Posted 16:10 05th January 2012

papachinzo says...

Oh yes, great squad. France will win the 6 Nations....

1.Barcella 2.Servat 3.Mas 4.Pape 5.Maestri 6.Dusautoir 7.Ouedraogo 8.Harinordoquy 9.Parra 10.Beauxis 11.Malzieu 12.Mermoz 13.Fofana 14.Clerc 15.Medard.

I would like to see Poitrenaud in the centre for Toulouse again before the 6N.

Posted 12:34 05th January 2012