SM
Fulham vs. Brentford: 1 hr 56 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

France's Damien Penaud replaces Teddy Thomas for Ireland clash

:Headline: France's Damien Penaud replaces Teddy Thomas for Ireland clash: ID:434953: from db_amp
Racing 92 wing Teddy Thomas scored twice in last weekend's thumping 50-10 win away to Italy.

France have dropped Teddy Thomas to the bench for Sunday's Guinness Six Nations clash with Ireland.

Racing 92 wing Thomas scored twice in last weekend's thumping 50-10 win away to Italy but Damian Penaud has been preferred on the right flank for the visit to Dublin.

Head coach Fabien Galthie has also altered his back row, bringing in Anthony Jelonch at blindside flanker in place of Dylan Cretin, who claimed the opening try in Rome.

There are three new faces among the replacements, with props Uini Atonio and Hassane Kolingar replacing Dorian Aldegheri and the injured Jean-Baptiste Gros, while versatile back Anthony Bouthier takes Louis Carbonel's place in the 23.

Galthie admits France will have to adapt to Ireland being without injured half-back duo Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray but does not expect the inclusion of deputies Billy Burns and Jamison Gibson-Park to significantly alter the opposition's play.

"This is the combination that ended the game against Wales which begins," he said of Burns and Gibson-Park.

"We will have to adapt to this change. It won't change the way they play too much.

Fabien Galthie hopes to improve France's poor recent record in Dublin (PA)

"We will have to block them at the ruck exits because Gibson-Park likes to carry the ball. Burns is of the same calibre. This team is experienced."

Les Bleus are bidding for a first Six Nations success at the Aviva Stadium in a decade, having failed to win on their past four visits.

Galthie added: "You have to be prepared for any challenge, anywhere and against anyone.

"You have to prepare to experience chaos as solidly as possible. This is what we prepare for without forgetting to face the unexpected."

Flanker Charles Ollivon captains Les Bleus from the back row, lining up alongside Jelonch and Gregory Alldritt, with the South Africa-born duo of Bernard Le Roux and Paul Willemse in the second row, behind hooker Julien Marchand and props Mohamed Haouas and Cyril Baille.

Influential scrum-half Antoine Dupont, who scored a try and created four more at Stadio Olimpico, continues his pairing with fly-half Matthieu Jalibert.

Gael Fickou and Arthur Vincent will start in midfield, with Penaud, Gabin Villiere and full-back Brice Dulin forming the back three.

France: B Dulin (La Rochelle); D Penaud (Clermont Auvergne), A Vincent (Montpellier), G Fickou (Stade Français), G Villiere (Toulon); M Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles), A Dupont (Toulouse); C Baille (Toulouse), J Marchand (Toulouse), M Haouas (Montpellier), B Le Roux (Racing 92), P Willemse (Montpellier), A Jelonch (Castres Olympique), C Ollivon (Toulon, capt), G Alldritt (La Rochelle).

Replacements: P Bourgarit (La Rochelle), H Kolingar (Racing 92), U Atonio (La Rochelle), R Taofifenua (Toulon), D Cretin (Lyon), B Serin (Toulon), A Bouthier (Montpellier), T Thomas (Racing 92).

amp_article__434953 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2021-02-12 15:56:15:
html db last update - 2021-02-12 15:56:15 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Teddy Thomas

Click here for more stories about France

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Bournemouth104331312115
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
11Brentford94141818013
12Fulham93331212012
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .