ARGENTINA’S forward power has forced France head coach Bernard Laporte into making some “painful” decisions in selecting his starting line-up for Friday’s World Cup opener at the Stade de France.

France will give more of their squad players a chance to impress ahead of the World Cup when they take on Wales in Cardiff on Sunday.

Serge Betsen will captain France in their World Cup warm-up match against Wales in Cardiff on Sunday.

GEORDAN MURPHY has underlined Leicester’s degree of difficulty in chasing an unprecedented trophy treble, declaring: “It is like climbing Everest.”

ITALY flanker Mauro Bergamasco will miss Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland after receiving a four-week ban for punching Wales captain Stephen Jones.

Sebastien Chabal and Dimitri Yachvili have been dropped from France’s squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship clash with Scotland on Saturday.

France have chosen a new-look half-back partnership of Pierre Mignoni and David Skrela for their RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Italy in Rome’s Stadio Flaminio on Saturday.

NEW Zealand head coach Graham Henry believes the 47-3 mauling of France shows his side are in perfect shape for next year’s World Cup.

COLIN CHARVIS has been dropped by Wales coach Scott Johnson as one of three personnel changes for the final RBS Six Nations Championship clash against France on Saturday.

Bernard Laporte has made one change to France‘s starting line-up for their final RBS Six Nations Championship clash with Wales on Saturday.

France have named Dimitri Yachvili and Sylvain Marconnet in their starting line-up for their crunch RBS Six Nations Championship clash with England at the Stade de France on Sunday.

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte has recalled hooker Dimitri Szarzewski to his 22-man squad to play England in the Six Nations tournament at the Stade de France on March 12.

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte’s quixotic attitude to selection saw him make three changes to the team that beat Ireland 43-31 for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Italy at the Stade de France.

Thomas Castaignede returns to the France line-up against Italy at the Stade de France on Saturday in the RBS Six Nations.

EXPERIENCED duo Thomas Castaignede and Serge Betsen have been drafted back into the France squad as coach Bernard Laporte looks toward their RBS Six Nations Championship match against Italy.

Experienced duo Thomas Castaignede and Serge Betsen have been drafted back into the France squad as coach Bernard Laporte looks at his options ahead of their RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Italy.

France coach Bernard Laporte has made five changes to his team for Saturday’s RBS Six Nations Championship clash with Ireland in Paris and brought back veterans Raphael Ibanez and Olivier Magne.

France head coach Bernard Laporte has named a 28-man squad for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash with Ireland in Paris.

Frederic Michalak has been named in France’s team to play Scotland in this weekend’s RBS 6 Nations clash at Murrayfield.

France have opted to keep faith with the majority of the squad that did so well during the second half of 2005 as they go in search of glory at the RBS 6 Nations.

EVERGREEN Justin Marshall won the contentious battle of the New Zealand half-backs when the All Blacks selectors showed their hand for the first Test against the Lions.

THOUGH the main focus of the final weekend will be in Cardiff, France’s game with Italy could play a major part in the outcome of the championship.

France will stick with the side that beat Ireland for their final RBS 6 Nations game against Italy at the Stadio Flamini on Saturday.

HOOKER William Servat has been named in the France squad for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy in Rome.

France coach Bernard Laporte has named his side to face Ireland in the crucial Six Nations clash at Lansdowne Road this weekend.

CLIVE WOODWARD yesterday announced his northern hemisphere squad for the Tsunami rugby aid match against the southern hemisphere at Twickenham on March 5.

Clive Woodward today announced his northern hemisphere squad for the Tsunami rugby aid match against the southern hemisphere at Twickenham on March 5.

Injuries to key players have forced France coach Bernard Laporte to reshuffle his 22-man squad for the first RBS 6 Nations match against Scotland on February 5.

Stade Francais veteran Diego Dominguez and massive centre Brian Liebenberg have been passed fit to play Munster on Saturday.

Imanol Harinordoquy has been named in the France team for the crucial RBS 6 Nations clash with England on Saturday.

France have dropped experienced flanker Olivier Magne to the bench for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Wales in Cardiff.

THE WORLD Cup is a year away but today the Six Nations champions France will pit their talents against the Tri-Nations victors New Zealand in what can be termed the unofficial world championship of 2002.

Grand Slam winners France provide just four members of the Zurich Six Nations team of the championship according to the latest world player rankings.

The French squad to face Ireland in the Six Nations game at Stade de France on April 6 has been named.

France coach Bernard Laporte has recalled Stephane Glas to Les Bleus’ squad for the Six Nations game at Scotland on March 23.

Teams for the Heineken Cup final between Leicester and Stade Francais in Paris tomorrow:

Pau scrum-half Philippe Carbonneau has been drafted into the French side for Saturday's Six Nations clash with Ireland.