France leave door open for Chabal

Sébastien Chabal has been told the selection door is still open despite his omission from France's Six Nations squad.

The giant Sale Sharks forward was among 19 of France's World Cup squad not included for a tournament that sees France launch their campaign as defending champions against Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday week.

Retirements meant the new France coach Marc Lièvremont could not call upon players like Fabien Pelous, Raphaël Ibañez, Serge Betsen and Christophe Dominici.

Elsewhere, injuries have struck, especially in the front row, but Lièvremont's decision to overlook Chabal proved a major surprise.

The coach insisted the call had been his, and his alone, claiming: "There was no pressure in France about the selection.

"When we looked at the players in the number eight position, we felt Elvis Vermeulen is the best player at the moment."

French Rugby Federation chief Bernard Lapasset claimed Lièvremont had been "courageous" in naming so many changes in his first squad.

But Lièvremont added: "There was nothing courageous in what I did. Some people have retired, and there are some heavy injuries.

"There is a lot of talk about the 2011 World Cup - and huge disappointment from the 2007 World Cup from France's perspective - but we want to keep an eye on what is happening now.

"Over the past few months we have looked at a lot of players. We have a list of players for the immediate future, but also a list of young players for 2011 who are not there yet, but will be eventually.

"Yes, of course he (Chabal) has a chance to get back. The door is still open to those players left out."

Lièvremont's first squad announcement saw call-ups for props Julien Brugnaut and Lionel Faure, lock Arnaud Mela, scrumhalf Morgan Parra, outhalf François Trinh-Duc and wing Julien Malzieu.

The Toulouse hooker William Servat is recalled to the squad after a lengthy absence and will battle with Dimitri Szarzewski for a place.

In the second row, the recently appointed captain Lionel Nallet will be partnered by Albi's Mela or Loïc Jacquet, who is enjoying an impressive season with Clermont Auvergne.

Montpellier's Fulgence Ouedraogo, who has one cap to his name, is one of four back-row forwards chosen, but Chabal, Remy Martin, Imanol Harinordoquy and Yannick Nyanga all missed out.

Lièvremont, speaking at yesterday's Six Nations launch at the Hurlingham Club, London, said: "It is a new group of players.

"We have lots of ambitions. We hope to win the first match, and go from there.

"I am convinced about the value of this squad. We need to build and look forward to the future."