Traille out, Baby faces Ireland

FRANCE centre Damien Traille has been ruled out of Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Ireland at Lansdowne Road, and will be replaced by Toulouse’s Benoit Baby, who is set to earn his first cap.

France rugby manager Jo Maso confirmed yesterday that 25-year-old Traille has not recovered from an inflamed ankle which kept him from playing in Saturday’s Northern Hemisphere - Southern Hemisphere match in aid of the tsunami victims.

The Biarritz star, who scored the only try in France’s first Six Nations match this season against Scotland, was rested on Friday and Saturday and underwent a test yesterday to see if he would be fit for the Ireland clash.

Medical sources claim the injury stems from training on synthetic pitches.

Laporte is expected to name his starting 15 for the Lansdowne Road clash tomorrow.

He is already without winger Aurelien Rougerie through injury and has opted to leave experienced number eight Imanol Harinordoquy out of the squad.

While France have lost their Grand Slam title after being beaten by Wales, they still hope to retain the Six Nations crown, though they will have to beat Ireland and Italy to have any chance of that.

Meanwhile, former All Blacks coach John Mitchell believes there is no future for him in New Zealand and his focus now is on his new role as coach of the Perth team which makes its debut in the expanded Super 14 competition next year.

Mitchell was dumped as coach after the All Blacks failed to win the 2003 World Cup, and in a parting swipe at the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU), he laid the blame at the feet of New Zealand’s rugby bosses.

“I needed better support and help in those other areas, but it still doesn’t get away from the fact that I had to cope with a lot during that period of time.

“People tend to forget that when I started as All Blacks coach in 2001 the organisation was in disarray, and there was uncertainty, and there weren’t any trophies in the cupboard. So one chose to concentrate on the core activities - the team.”

Apart from a coaching clinic with local clubs here next week and with the NZRU in May, Mitchell said that will be it for his involvement in New Zealand rugby in the foreseeable future.

“There’s no future for me in New Zealand and no bigger challenge in world rugby right now than establishing this team in Perth,” said Mitchell.

“You never say never but if I want to grow as a professional coach I’ve got to look at other opportunities outside this country, because as an NPC (National Provincial Championship) coach now you don’t have any say in the recruitment of players and you have more of a development role.”