Loss of Jauzion significant blow to French, says O’Driscoll

IRISH captain Brian O’Driscoll isn’t weeping any tears at the absence of France’s Yannick Jauzion for Saturday’s Six Nations clash at the Stade de France.

O’Driscoll has been rated one of the best if not the best centre in the world almost from the day six years ago when he scored a hat-trick of tries against the French at the same venue. However, Jauzion has been creeping ever closer in the rankings and all of France is disappointed that a head-to-head between the talented pair on Saturday will not now be possible as the French star is out with a broken toe. It wouldn’t normally be a blow to the French to lose one midfield back but that most certainly was the case at Murrayfield on Sunday when their midfield crumbled badly and Jauzion’s replacement Ludovic Valbon had a pretty miserable afternoon.

Said O’Driscoll: “When France lose a world-class player like Yannick, it’s always a positive for the opposition.