Yachvili steps up for big French test

FRANCE prodigy Dimitri Yachvili may have enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence but the scrum-half is not about to rest on his laurels.

The 22-year-old is the only change to the France team to play Ireland on Saturday, coming into the side in place of captain Fabien Galthie who injured his right shoulder in the 38-3 win over Scotland on February 23.

The game will be only the third time Yachvili has represented France. He made his debut last November in the 35-3 win over Canada before coming on as a late replacement in the game against Scotland.

The youngster, whose father Michel Yachvili played for France between 1968 and 1975, has set his sights on securing France’s No 9 jersey for the World Cup.

“When you are a substitute you are always eager to prove what you can do. I have to forget on Saturday that Galthie is the usual leader and show them all what my true potential is.

“This weekend, if I put in a good display I will be judged. When you are in that team and there is a competition like the World Cup coming up soon, you feel like staying in it.”

Starting a RBS 6 Nations match for his country caps a remarkable few years for Yachvili, who not so long ago was playing amateur rugby with Paris Universite Club (PUC).

He then switched to Gloucester where he spent one season and played 16 matches before joining Biarritz.

Yachvili says his experiences in England and with Biarritz have proved invaluable in helping him make the step up to the international stage.

“When I moved to England this was a great opportunity for me to play high level rugby. I learnt a lot there, I had responsibilities and it allowed me to judge my potential. I also gained in maturity because I left when I was very young, I had no choice but to cope with it.

“In Biarritz also I had the chance to be trusted and to play with forwards who have great experience. I owe them a lot for my current success.”

Yachvili will be paired with number 10 Francois Gelez at half-back for the first time, although the newcomer is not in the slightest bit concerned.

“I am not worried at all,” Yachvili said. “Even if we’ve never played together I trust him fully.

“This is going to be an exciting match to play and that will be my spirit. There is no need to add extra pressure. The objective will be to win.”

Meanwhile, the Ireland A team to play France A in Belfast on Friday night shows three changes from the team which beat Italy A 10 days ago.

The Irish second string are unbeaten this season after a draw in Scotland and victory in Rogivo on February 21.

But coach Matt Williams will have a new prop for his front row at Ravenhill as a result of the injury to senior international Reggie Corrigan. Marcus Horan has been promoted as Corrigan’s replacement in the senior side to face France at Lansdowne Road.

The vacancy he left on the bench will be filled by Ulster’s Justin Fitzpatrick so Connacht’s Ronan McCormack comes into the A side.

Similarly, Ronan O’Gara’s recovery means Harlequins’ fly-half Paul Burke drops to the A side with London Irish’s Barry Everitt on the bench.

There is also a positional change with Jeremy Staunton to be tried at outside centre after Gordon D’Arcy played the first two A internationals of the season in the number 13 shirt.

D’Arcy takes over Staunton’s full-back role as the Irish management continue their search for a genuine understudy at outside centre for Brian O’Driscoll.

IRELAND A: G D’Arcy (Lansdowne); J Topping (Ballymena), J Staunton (Garrryowen), D Quinlan (Blackrock College), T Robinson (Buccaneers); P Burke (Harlequins), N Doak (Belfast Harlequins, capt); R McCormack (Buccaneers), P Shields (Ballymena); S Best (Belfast Harlequins), D. O’Callaghan (Cork Con), J Davidson (Dungannon), S Easterby (Llanelli), Kieron Dawson (London Irish), E Miller (Terenure).

Replacements: J Blaney (Shannon), P Bracken (Galwegians), M O’Driscoll (Cork Con), A McCullen (Lansdowne), B O’Meara (Cork Con), B Everitt (Shannon) M Lawlor (Shannon).