French hoping for a game of two halves

Rugby Six Nations Championship: William Servat and Fabien Pelous to strike up the tune in the short lineouts, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Frederic Michalak as band leaders, Yannick Jauzion to beat the tempo in the midfield and Vincent Clerc for the final crescendo. Only Guy Noves is missing to conduct the Quinze de France and Toulouse's triumph would be total.

But in the short time since the Stade Toulousain coach rejected Laporte's assertion that France's players were not as well trained as their English rivals at the World Cup, the prospect of a Toulouse-led France has faded from view. Bernard Laporte rules for four more years despite the heavy criticism directed his way after the World Cup semi-final defeat to England and his disappointing management of the third-place game against New Zealand.

The bright vista of that quarter final win over Ireland has been forgotten, the slightly abject end of France's World Cup adventure has left a deep scar on French supporters' minds. Laporte has a lot to apologise for and the national team too. The shortest route to forgiveness is to win the Six Nations, a triumph that would also deflect attention from the major task of rebuilding ahead of the 2007 World Cup.

Indeed, Laporte has put any revolution on the long finger. Although Fabien Galthie and Raphael Ibanez have retired, major change has been postponed. Most likely until the next tour of North America, next summer. But also, perhaps, because this year's Six Nations schedule has been kind to the French. With home dates against Ireland and Italy to settle the side comfortably into the competition and England to finish, the French couldn't dream of a better scenario to make a fresh start after the World Cup.

Laporte then could hardly be blamed for avoiding radical surgery on his side and Christophe Dominici's cap is a blatant proof of it. "We want to strike a balance between maturity and youth and keep one experienced player in every line, which explains Dominici playing on the wing," explained Jo Maso at the announcement of the team's make-up.

But is the Stade Français winger the best bet in this position at present? His recent form would suggest otherwise. However, despite his vulnerability, he is the only selected player who remains questionable. The rest of the team fits well with Laporte's belief in "building the best team now to win the tournament". The policy of selecting the player in good form, not one who could be in four years' time, prevailed. Thus prop Jean-Jacques Crenca's selection should be no surprise, even if he won't play at the next World Cup.

And while the inclusion of Biarritz number eight Thomas Lievremont, three years after his last selection, is a surprise, it is not a major shock. Closer scrutiny shows that the French need more frontal power. They lacked such impact against England in Sydney and without it they will never be able to compete with the top nations.

The French have made a big step forward in recent years, especially in the backs with players such as Jauzion, Traille, Clerc, Liebenberg or Rougerie. But they know they still have a lot to do in this sector of the game. This logic drove Bernard Laporte to choose hooker William Servat rather than Yannick Bru, the bulkier Pascal Pape over the slight David Auradou in the second row. This is also the reason he plans to have Lievremont play at number eight during the game so that Imanol Harinordoquy can slot in at number seven.

But above all, a lot is expected from the two halves, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Frederic Michalak in a sector where France have long lacked the ideal pair. This is the 18th attempt at a combination in the Laporte era since he took over in year 2000. This latest exercise in matchmaking is expected to be a long-term solution, especially given the enraptured favour the Toulouse pair have found with their club coach and with the French media.

They know each other very well and their performances with Toulouse in the European Cup speak for themselves. Versatile in spite of their differences, they have all the necessary qualities to reawaken the old French flair again.

But despite the esteem in which he is held, the son of Beziers coach Jean-Pierre Elissalde will be allowed no mistake in defence. "One of the very few sectors Jean-Baptiste has to improve," warned Laporte, who was not sure about Elissalde's physical presence.

Elissalde also gives Laporte kicking options. The scrumhalf is also a prodigious goal-kicker, maybe even better than Michalak, thanks to metronomic regularity. His right-foot kick is a real golf swing and, close in, he has no equal in France except perhaps Diego Dominguez. So the French could have two kickers on the field tomorrow - Elissalde for the close kicks, Michalak for the long ones.

This pair have everything. Ultimately the French team's future is in their hands tomorrow. And it could be sweet revenge for Elissalde when Laporte would not hear of him in the recent past.