Unchanged France squad to face Ireland

France coach Marc Lievremont has named an unchanged 23-man squad for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Grand Slam champions Ireland.

Les Bleus started their campaign with an 18-9 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield yesterday and Lievremont has kept faith with his charges from the Edinburgh trip.

“The group of 23 players will be retained despite the uncertainties,” he said.

“It’s been a while since there was continuity in the France team, given injuries and dips in form.”

Clermont Auvergne wing Aurelien Rougerie, Bayonne wing Benjamin Fall and Castres prop Luc Ducalcon are having various injuries assessed in Paris today.

“We will know more tonight,” Lievremont added.

The starting XV for this weekend’s clash at the Stade de France will be announced on Wednesday morning in Marcoussis.

Centre Mathieu Bastareaud completed a fairytale comeback against Scotland yesterday by scoring his first two international tries in his first Test start since falsely claiming he had been assaulted during his country’s tour of New Zealand last summer.

Morgan Parra kicked France’s other points as try-saving tackles from Thom Evans and Sean Lamont prevented them adding to their tally, while Chris Paterson landed three penalties for the toothless hosts.

France squad:

Forwards: T Domingo (Clermont Auvergne), L Ducalcon (Castres), S Marconnet (Stade Francais), N Mas (Perpignan), W Servat (Toulouse), D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), P Pape (Stade Francais), L Nallet (Racing-Metro), J Pierre (Clermont Auvergne), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), T Dusautoir (Toulouse), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), F Ouedraogo (Montpellier).

Backs: M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), F Michalak (Toulouse), M Bastareaud (Stade Francais), Y Jauzion (Toulouse), D Marty (Perpignan), V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), B Fall (Bayonne), C Poitrenaud (Toulouse).