Laporte puts faith in veterans against Italy

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.

The 41-year-old ditched both David Marty and Cedric Heymans from the starting XV even though both had scored two tries apiece against the Irish and Marty had been named man of the match.

Instead Laporte has opted for three veterans to return to the fold and appeared to ditch his strategy of introducing new talent with just over a year to the World Cup which France are hosting.