France pledge to learn from ’03 World Cup ‘errors’

FRANCE are determined to learn from their mistakes of four years ago as they head into their series of warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup.

A 22-man Les Bleus squad, which included long-term absentees Fabien Pelous and Frederic Michalak, was named today for the international friendly against England at Twickenham this weekend.

With a return match against the world champions in Marseille and a clash with Wales in Cardiff to come before the World Cup opener against Argentina on September 7, French selectors have three games to assess their options.

Team manager Jo Maso insists the squad will be rotated for the trio of matches, and is adamant France will not go into the September showpiece with an ‘A’ and ‘B’ team like they did in Australia in 2003.

Maso said: “We will have different 22-man squads each time. We have decided that everyone will participate. In Marseille, it will be largely the same team, plus some others.

“There isn’t a definite first team like we chose to go with in 2003, with a standard first team and then a second team.

“We are not going to make the same errors again – we perhaps were badly organised then.’’

Pelous and Michalak were the outstanding names selected for Les Bleus’ opening warm-up match. Pelous, who has not played international rugby since November because of an ankle injury, will equal Philippe Sella’s record of 111 caps for France if he plays on Saturday.

The Toulouse star is set to resume his long-time partnership with Jerome Thion in the second row, while Michalak could return at fly-half after an even longer spell in the international wilderness.

The mercurial 24-year-old, who will join Natal Sharks after the World Cup, last played for his country in March last year – in an RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Wales – and has also been struggling with injury over the past year.

If Michalak is handed a start, he will be partnered at half-back by former Toulouse colleague Jean-Baptiste Elissalde.

Veteran winger Christophe Dominici does not feature in the squad, with Aurelien Rougerie, Cedric Heymans and Vincent Clerc battling it out for the two wide positions. Maso said Dominici would play in Marseille a week on Saturday.

Sale number eight Sebastien Chabal is named in the squad for this weekend, but is set to be on the bench acting as cover for the second row and back row.

Julien Bonnaire, normally a flanker, could revert to number eight for the Twickenham tussle, allowing either Remy Martin or Yannick Nyanga an opportunity to impress at number seven.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has named an experienced 30-man team for the World Cup, with the only uncapped addition being loose forward Manoa Vosawai.

Berbizier’s side take on Japan at the Saint Vincent Perruca Stadium on August 18, before wrapping up their preparations for France with a visit to Ravenhill to take on Ireland on August 24. The Italians have been drawn in Group C of the World Cup and face New Zealand, Romania, Portugal and face a probable knock-out match against Scotland in Saint Etienne on September 29.