BERNARD LAPORTE has reacted ruthlessly to the shock defeat by Scotland on Sunday by making five changes to the France team for the second round of matches in the RBS Six Nations Championship, against Ireland tomorrow.
In an attempt to ensure that the pre-tournament favourites’ campaign does not go off the rails within six days, Laporte, the France coach, has brought back the English-based veterans Olivier Magne and Raphaël Ibañez, as well as Aurélien Rougerie, David Marty and Olivier Milloud.
Magne, 32, who has only recently returned to the London Irish team after four months out with a foot injury, will win his 84th cap at the expense of Rémy Martin, while Ibañez, who at almost 33 has enjoyed a fresh start at London Wasps, displaces Dimitri Szarzewski at hooker.
Rougerie comes back on to the wing, with Christophe Dominici dropping to full back in place of Nicolas Brusque. After enduring a torrid debut at Murrayfield, Ludovic Valbon makes way for Marty at inside centre, while Milloud is preferred to Sylvain Marconnet at loose-head prop.
“We took our loss to Scotland very badly and what happened is not acceptable from a team like us,” Jo Maso, the France manager, said.