Advertisement
France centre Wesley Fofana.

Final Six Nations start for Fofana among six France changes from Ireland defeat

The Clermont centre will start as the French look to sign off on a poor campaign with victory in Rome.

JACQUES BRUNEL HAS handed Wesley Fofana a start in his final Six Nations appearance as one of six changes as France look to finish a disappointing campaign with victory over Italy on Saturday [KO 12.30pm, Virgin Media One].

France travel to Rome with one win from their four matches, seeking to put a 26-14 defeat to Ireland last time out swiftly behind them.

Brunel’s side sit second bottom in the table ahead of the final round but cannot be caught by Italy, who are yet to get off the mark.

Four of France’s changes come in the pack, as Etienne Falgoux replaces Jefferson Poirot in the front row, Paul Willemse is preferred at lock to Sebastien Vahaamahina, while Gregory Alldritt and Yacouba Camara come into the back row.

Maxime Medard will slot in at full-back in place of Thomas Ramos, while Brunel prefers Fofana — who announced plans in January to retire from international rugby after this year’s World Cup — at inside centre.

France go into the clash having won 17 of their 19 Six Nations matches against Italy, including a 40-17 victory on their last visit to Stadio Olimpico in 2017. 

France (v Italy):

15. Maxime Medard (Toulouse)
14. Damian Penaud (Clermont Auvergne)
13. Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon)
12. Wesley Fofana (Clermont Auvergne)
11. Yoann Huget (Toulouse)
10. Romain Ntamack (Toulouse)
9. Antoine Dupont (Toulouse)

1. Etienne Falgoux (Clermont Auvergne)
2. Guilhem Guirado (Toulon — captain)
3. Demba Bamba (Brive)
4. Felix Lambey (Lyon)
5. Paul Willemse (Montpellier)
6. Gregory Alldritt (La Rochelle)
7. Yacouba Camara (Montpellier)
8. Louis Picamoles (Montpellier)

Replacements:

16. Camille Chat (Racing 92)
17. Dany Priso (La Rochelle)
18. Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse)
19. Paul Gabrillagues (Stade Francais)
20. Arthur Iturria (Clermont Auvergne)
21. Baptiste Serin (Bordeaux Bègles)
22. Camille Lopez (Clermont Auvergne)
23. Thomas Ramos (Toulouse)

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:

Author
View 10 comments
Close
10 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Limón Madrugada
    Favourite Limón Madrugada
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 7:44 PM

    What would Calderon know ? . He said Zidane had rejected the offer last week ! Absolute chancer !

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Virgil Van Rock
    Favourite Virgil Van Rock
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 8:17 PM

    Zidane was blessed to have Ronaldo while manager. 99% of game’s were won by him alone over that 3 year success. Zidane won’t know how to rebuild that team to same nights. He needs to sort the Courtouis and wife issue first. Very messy and and unsightly affair all together. Zidane is a legend, Madrid are a toxic club.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Limón Madrugada
    Favourite Limón Madrugada
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 8:17 PM

    @Virgil Van Rock: yawn … see you May 2020 ya mouth !

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Lyons
    Favourite Stephen Lyons
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 8:33 PM

    @Limón Madrugada: Watch out for the parasite Limon

    4
    See 7 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Weston
    Favourite David Weston
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 8:40 PM

    @Limón Madrugada: surely you can get a room before then

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Limón Madrugada
    Favourite Limón Madrugada
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 9:18 PM

    @David Weston: surely you’ll find a better one liner by then

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Weston
    Favourite David Weston
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 9:38 PM

    @Limón Madrugada: for you pair ?Nah that one is about right

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Virgil Van Rock
    Favourite Virgil Van Rock
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 10:04 PM

    @Limón Madrugada: Point proven Ronaldo drags Juve into last 8, just like last 3 year’s with Real, don’t know what the other guy is chomping at the bit for, parasite ??

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Limón Madrugada
    Favourite Limón Madrugada
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 10:31 PM

    @Virgil Van Rock: no ones denying Ronaldos effect . But your clinging to Courtois’ love life is tenuous . Maybe Liverpool should sign Ronaldo ..

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Limón Madrugada
    Favourite Limón Madrugada
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 10:52 PM

    @Virgil Van Rock: just wondering when you’ll change your identity , when Liverpool win … or when they lose … either way you’ll be someone else by next month

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Virgil Van Rock
    Favourite Virgil Van Rock
    Report
    Mar 13th 2019, 8:29 AM

    @Limón Madrugada: Lemon seriously would you Kop on you imbecile

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Drew Walsh
    Favourite Drew Walsh
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 8:09 PM

    100% spot on to not bring him. Legendary manager but think his time at the top is over the game has passed him by IMO. Be interesting to see him try and win a world cup with Portugal.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Limón Madrugada
    Favourite Limón Madrugada
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 10:54 PM

    @Drew Walsh: Mourinho is a great manager for a tournament . But I think it’s not just a coincidence that why I try to type his name my spellcheck insists on correcting to ‘ mourning’

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnny O Flaherty
    Favourite Johnny O Flaherty
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 8:17 PM

    Would’ve been fun to see him there again

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Brennan
    Favourite Martin Brennan
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 10:05 PM

    Who’d want to manage a guy like Ramos who cost his own team by cheating

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Limón Madrugada
    Favourite Limón Madrugada
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 10:11 PM

    @Martin Brennan: you do mean Sergio Ramos who has 4CL , 3 or 4 ligas , two euros , 1 World Cup 3 world club championships a couple of Copa del Reys ?? Nah he’s a loser

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Getard Lanslanger
    Favourite Getard Lanslanger
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 10:36 PM

    @Limón Madrugada: a drug cheating loser

    4
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Limón Madrugada
    Favourite Limón Madrugada
    Report
    Mar 12th 2019, 10:49 PM

    @Getard Lanslanger: who happens to have loads of medals and no history of drugs , unlike for example Pep Guardiola …

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stanley Baggins
    Favourite Stanley Baggins
    Report
    Mar 13th 2019, 12:24 AM

    Jose won’t get a massive job like that again. A talented manager but one who’s ego outgrew the talent, and ended up becoming an insufferable bore

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel