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MARCOUSSIS, France - New France rugby coach Marc Lievremont picked six new faces and left out Sebastien Chabal when he named his 22-man squad for the Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 3 at Murrayfield.
Lievremont, who took over from Bernard Laporte following France's semifinal exit at last year's World Cup, included backs Morgan Parra, Francois Trin-Dhuc and Julien Malzieu plus forwards Julien Brugnault, Lionel Faure and Arnaud Mela.
The powerful Chabal, a flanker who was controversially used at lock by Laporte, rose to fame during the World Cup on home soil but the burly Sale player failed to convince Lievremont.
The Six Nations tournament will mark a new era for France after stalwarts such as Raphael Ibanez, Fabien Pelous and Serge Betsen quit in the wake of the World Cup.
Among the 22 players selected by Lievremont, only 11 featured in France's World Cup squad. The new coach recalled several players overlooked by Laporte, notably hooker William Servat and centre Florian Fritz.
Laporte, now junior minister for sport, was criticised during the World Cup campaign for relying on dull tactics based on defending and kicking rather than France's trademark flair.
Squad:
Backs: Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Morgan Parra, Francois Trin-Dhuc, David Skrela, Florian Fritz, Damien Traille, Vincent Clerc, Julien Malzieu, Cedric Heymans, Aurelien Rougerie
Forwards: Julien Brugnaut, Lionel Faure, Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Dimitri Szarzewski, Loic Jacquet, Lionel Nallet, Arnaud Mela, Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Elvis Vermeulen.
- REUTERS
