France make three changes in squad to face Ireland

France recalled winger Cedric Heymans, lock Pascal Pape and centre Ludovic Valbon to their 22-man squad for their Six Nations rugby match against Ireland at Lansdowne Road on March 12.

The 26-year-old Heymans, who has made 10 appearances for France, replaces Aurelien Rougerie after the Clermont-Ferrand winger was sidelined by a collarbone injury.

Pape and Valbon take over from number eight Imanol Harinordoquy and centre Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, who both came off the bench when France lost 24-18 to Wales at the Stade de France last weekend.

Pape, 24, has won seven caps. He started the games against England, Scotland, Wales and Italy last season. He was relegated to the bench for the three November tests against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand and missed the first part of the Six Nations through injury.

Valbon, 28, has two caps to his name, the first one as a starter against the United States last july, the second one as a replacement against Scotland in France's Six Nations opener.

France scraped victories over Scotland and England in their first two matches before the Wales defeat and could still retain their title.

Squad:

Forwards: Sylvain Marconnet, Nicolas Mas, Olivier Milloud, Sebastien Bruno, William Servat, Gregory Lamboley, Fabien Pelous, Jerome Thion, Pascal Pape, Serge Betsen, Julien Bonnaire, Yannick Nyanga.

Backs: Pierre Mignoni, Dimitri Yachvili, Yann Delaigue, Frederic Michalak, Yannick Jauzion, Damien Traille, Christophe Dominici, Cedric Heymans, Julien Laharrague, Ludovic Valbon.

- REUTERS