Saint-Andre opts for size as France eye the big prize

If Ireland are to win in Paris for just the second time in 42 years then they may have to do it the hard way after France coach Philippe Saint-Andre named his strongest side thus far in the Six Nations.

Saint-Andre, once a mercurial wing and scorer of one of the all-time great Test tries at Twickenham in the Grand Slam decider in 1991, has long preferred the big and often unsubtle in his teams.

So it is no surprise he has responded to an unconvincing last-gasp victory in Edinburgh last week with four changes, bringing in three experienced players in Louis Picamoles, Dimitri Szarzewski and Remi Tales as well as one, Gael Fickou, whose best years still lie some way in the future.

The return of Szarzewski was a no-brainer. The Racing-Metro hooker was absent in Scotland where the line-out went horribly wrong, nine calls going astray. His replacement Brice Mach drops out of the 23.

The French also missed Picamoles in the line-out, mainly for his calling. He comes back into the back row after being dropped for disciplinary reasons, Saint-Andre not overly impressed by his yacking at the referee in Cardiff.

“His discipline was not what we expect from an international player,” said Saint-Andre. “But we know he is a good footballer. He is very physical and against a very physical Ireland we need players who are very powerful.”

Picamoles cut a contrite figure but promised a better performance against Jamie Heaslip, Chris Henry and Peter O’Mahony.

“It was unacceptable to play the idiot,” said the Toulouse back-rower. “I was not master of my temperament. But we learn from our mistakes. It is important now to show other aspects of my game than those I displayed against Wales.”

Normally a number eight, Picamoles is set to start on the side of the scrum with Damian Chouly, who made a pig’s ear of the line-out calls against Scotland, getting his head down and keeping his mouth shut at number eight. The chances are, there will be some switching by the two eights although Saint-Andre wasn’t letting on.

“There are some Irish journalists here so I am saying nothing,” he said at yesterday’s press conference as if he would tell all had it been French only. Fat chance. Saint-Andre is no mug when it comes to keeping his cards close to his chest.

The other two changes come in the backs, notably Remi Tales replacing Jules Plisson in another move that was widely expected once the Castres fly-half recovered from injury.

“Remi Tales was our first choice fly-half in November and he brought us some serenity in the last 30 minutes against Scotland when he came on [for Plisson].”

Serenity is a good word for Tales. He always seems to have time and lends a calm, quiet authority to the backs. He is also in a different league defensively to Plisson in that he actually tackles.

The inclusion of Tales has allowed Saint-Andre to make the fourth and final change which sees 19-year-old Gael Fickou make his first start in the Six Nations, lining up against Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy.

The French have greeted his inclusion like the hungry hermits waiting for the bread wagon. His late try against England was a moment of individual brilliance that delivered an unlikely victory and glossed over the inadequacies of a moderate French performance.

With Wesley Fofana ruled out through injury he was expected to play against the Scots but Max Mermoz was preferred. This time he is in.

“He is a young kid with a lot of talent,” said Saint-Andre. “It is nice for him to come in and play opposite Brian O’Driscoll in his last match. In 20, 30 years he can say: ‘I remember playing against this guy’.”

Once a central defender on the football field he is facing a baptism of fire in the tournament.

“I have never played against O’Driscoll but I will do my best,” said Fickou who was just five when BOD announced himself with a hat-trick at the Stade de France in 2000.

In spite of the changes, Saint-André was at pains to reduce expectations of either a win against the Irish or the possibility of a Six Nations Championship title.

“This is going to be a very tough game, but also an exciting one, against a great team,” he said.

“Ireland are playing very well and it is the last one for one of the big, big names of international rugby Brian O’Driscoll. So I think they are favourites to start.

“But my players are focused, we want to finish the Six Nations well. This time a year ago we had lost three and drawn one, this year we have won three and lost one. We want to finish with four wins.”