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TOULOUSE - Embattled France cannot gain full redemption for their loss in the Rugby World Cup opener when they take on lowly Namibia in Toulouse on Sunday, but they can take a first step in that direction.
The shock waves from the stunning 12-17 reverse to Argentina in Paris last Friday are still reverberating around the country and coach Bernard Laporte has reacted by benching some of his biggest names and team leaders for his side's second game.
Among those out of the starting lineup and on to the bench went skipper Rafael Ibanez, former captain Fabien Pelous and influential centre Yannick Jauzion.
Laporte brought in 12 players including the Toulouse halfback partnership of the mercurial Frederic Michalak and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, who will captain the side.
Only South African-born prop Pieter de Villiers, centre Damien Traille and Cedric Heymans survive from the team that started against Argentina with the latter switching back to his regular post of wing after an under-par performance at fullback. Toulouse team-mate Clement Poitrenaud returns at fullback.
Wholesale changes were expected against the likely Pool D whipping boys, as Laporte tries to keep his veterans fresh before the big match against Ireland in Paris next Thursday, but the French coach has made it clear he wants to see a new attitude from his players.
"It is vital we regain that feeling which we had in the warm-up matches (they won all three)," Laporte said.
"It is imperative we rediscover our enthusiasm. Were we affected by the defeat? I would be lying if I said otherwise.
"There are four group matches, we have lost one. We have to win the three others," added Laporte.
Michalak, who has battled injuries all year, said that the French players had taken too much for granted against Argentina and that it was time to knuckle down to hard reality.
"We saw ourselves too early as World Cup winners," he said. "But that can only come about if we work hard day after day."
Defeat against Namibia may be out of the question but the southwest Africans did raise a few eyebrows with a spirited performance in their opener which they lost 17-32 to Ireland.
Coach Hakkies Husselman has largely given that team a vote of confidence with just two changes made for the game against France.
Jurie van Tonder takes over from Eugene Jantjies at scrum-half and Michael Mackenzie will start at blindside flanker in a reshuffled back row after Hendrik Senekal suffered a calf injury against Ireland.
Teams:
FRANCE: Clement Poitrenaud, Vincent Clerc, David Marty, Damien Traille, Cedric Heymans, Frederic Michalak, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (capt), Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir, Yannick Nyanga, Jerome Nallet, Sebastien Chabal, Pieter de Villiers, Dimitri Szarzewski, Jean-Baptiste Poux. Reserves: Raphael Ibanez, Olivier Mas, Fabien Pelous, Imanol Harinordoquy, Lionel Beauxis, Yannick Jauzion, Aurelien Rougerie.
NAMIBIA: TC Losper, Ryan Witbooi, Bradley Langenhoven, Piet van Zyl, Heinrich Bock, Emile Wessels, Jurie van Tonder, Jacques Nieuwenhuis, Jacques Burger, Michael MacKenzie, Nico Esterhuize, Uakazuwaka Kazombiaze, Jane du Toit, Hugo Horn, Kees Lensing (capt). Reserves: Johannes Meyer, Johnny Redelinghuys, Herman Lintvelt, Tinus du Plessis, Eugene Jantjies, Lu-Wayne Botes, Melrick Africa.
- AFP
