Harinordoquy Missing From French Squad

France coach Bernard Laporte has made three changes to his squad for Saturday week’s RBS Six Nations clash with Ireland, with 2004’s joint-top tournament try scorer Imanol Harinordoquy missing out.

Pau number eight Harinordoquy was a replacement in Saturday’s 24-18 loss to Grand Slam chasers Wales in Paris, and his place goes to Bourgoin second row Pascal Pape – now recovered from an ankle injury.

Another piece of good news for Ireland is the unavailability of bullocking back Aurelien Rougerie. The 24-year-old winger is suffering from a sternum injury following his try-scoring appearance and game-leading seven carries against the Welsh.

Cedric Heymans replaces Rougerie in the squad, with Brive centre Ludovic Valbon also preferred to Jean-Philippe Grandclaude.

Laporte will name his match-day squad in Marcoussis, near Paris on Tuesday, March 8.

FRANCE SQUAD (v Ireland, Lansdowne Road, Saturday, March 12, kick-off 1.30pm):

Backs: Pierre Mignoni (Clermont), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz), Yann Delaigue (Castres), Frederic Michalak (Toulouse), Damien Traille (Biarritz), Yannick Jauzion (Toulouse), Christophe Dominici (Stade Francais), Ludovic Valbon (Brive), Cedric Heymans (Toulouse), Julien Laharrague (Brive)

Forwards: Sylvain Marconnet (Toulouse), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Olivier Milloud (Bourgoin), Sebastien Bruno (Sale), William Servat (Toulouse), Gregory Lamboley (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (Bourgoin), Fabien Pelous (Toulouse) (Capt), Jerome Thion (Perpignan), Serge Betsen (Biarritz), Julien Bonnaire (Bourgoin), Yannick Nyanga (Beziers)