Wood blasts French selection policy

Former Ireland skipper Keith Wood has accused France of devaluing the RBS Six Nations with a selection policy he finds infuriating.

Les Bleus coach Marc Lievremont performed major surgery on his team throughout last year’s championship, making some baffling selections and substitutions.

Many felt France would have won the title comfortably had they fielded their best team throughout.

Lievremont’s team to face Ireland tomorrow has also provoked some head-scratching, namely his decision to pick just one fly-half in Lionel Beauxis.

Wood, capped 58 times and a veteran of two Lions tours, believes France are suffering under Lievremont’s erratic use of the squad

“France’s selection policy annoys me,” said Wood, brand ambassador for Bushmills Irish Whiskey.

“We’re fortunate to have a tournament like this which is so special and ingrained into the psyche of all the teams that play in it.

“To have almost a ’wily-nilly’ selection policy – and Lievremont tries to justify it, though I don’t know if he justifies it well – is frustrating.

“And I mean that as a rugby fan, not an Ireland fan. We want to see that fantastic French team of the 1990s and 2000s that everyone knows can play so well.

“The only way they can do that is if they’re together for a period of time. Chopping and changing constantly doesn’t help.

“Jean-Baptiste Elissalde is one of the best players in the world. Not having him even in the 22 I just don’t understand.

“At times France’s selection policy devalues the Six Nations. For want of a couple of things, France could have won last year. They were very close to doing so anyway.

“Maybe Mark thinks this is France’s strongest team, but to the vast majority of people it seems a bit strange.”