Harinordoquy returns as France make four changes

France have brought Imanol Harinordoquy into their team for Saturday’s Six Nations home clash against Ireland in one of four changes to the starting lineup from last weekend’s victory over Italy.

Manager Philippe Saint-Andre yesterday named an unchanged backline after France’s four tries in their 30-12 win against the Azzurri in Paris but rung the changes among the forwards.

Harinordoquy replaces flanker Julien Bonnaire as Saint-Andre is hoping for major improvement in the lineout, while Jean-Baptiste Poux takes over from Vincent Debaty. Hooker Dimitri Szarzewski replaces William Servat, with Yoann Maestri taking over from lock Lionel Nallet.

“I wanted to bring in some freshness since maybe we worked too much last week,” said Saint-Andre at a news conference yesterday.

“It was logical to bring Imanol in for the lineouts.”

Saint-Andre said he was tempted to play Harinordoquy with Bonnaire for the lineouts at the expense of number eight Louis Picamoles but decided against it because of the Toulouse player’s fine performance against Italy.

FRANCE: M Medard (Toulouse); V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), W Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne); F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), D Yachvili (Biarritz); J-B Poux (Toulouse), D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), N Mas (Perpignan), P Pape (Stade Francais), Y Maestri (Toulouse), T Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), L Picamoles (Toulouse).

Replacements: W Servat (Toulouse), V Debaty (Clermont Auvergne), L Nallet (Racing Metro), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), L Beauxis (Toulouse),M Mermoz (Perpignan).