FRANCE HAVE called up 23-year-old Castres scrumhalf Sebastien Tillous-Bordes to replace injured Morgan Parra in the squad to face the Pacific Islands next weekend.
Substitute Parra broke a finger in the 12-6 win over Argentina at Stade Velodrome, Marseille, on Saturday. Tillous-Bordes, who earned his two caps during last June's tour in Australia, was the only change to the 23-man squad announced yesterday.
"We told the players in the lockerroom before the (Argentina) game that this squad would not be changed whatever the result would be. It was a way to show our support and to say we believe in them," coach Marc Lievremont said.
France play the Pacific Islands in Sochaux next Saturday, before a Test against Australia the following week.
Lievremont promised French fans, when he was appointed after a disappointing World Cup on home soil last year, that his team would play attacking rugby. He renewed that promise yesterday, despite a win without a try against Argentina who humiliated France twice in the World Cup. "We always wish to play spectacular rugby but these kind of games just have to be won," Lievremont said.
France had to work hard to defeat Argentina on Saturday. They had most of the possession but too many unforced errors cancelled out their attacking efforts in a try-less, scrappy game.
The French relied on three penalties by Benoit Baby and David Skrela, the last one two minutes from time, and a snap drop goal by Skrela to erase the memory of their defeat to the Pumas in the opening game and third-place play-off of the World Cup. The Pumas scored two penalties by Felipe Contepomi.
France's best try-scoring opportunity came 12 minutes into the second half when fullback Maxime Medard, the only newcomer in the team, countered in his 22. The 21-year-old charged down the touchline and chipped ahead but a Contepomi shoulder charge pushed him into touch.
In the final 10 minutes, the French produced wave after wave of attacks but the Pumas held firm. "The good thing is we defended well but we lacked possession. It's only the first match of the tour," said Argentina coach Santiago Phelan.
With France leading 9-6, Argentina launched a last raid before Skrela landed a final penalty from the touchline.
Scorers: France: Penalties:David Skrela (2), Benoit Baby; Drop goal: Skrela. Argentina: Penalties: Felipe Contepomi (2)
FRANCE(Squad to play Pacific Islands): Forwards: Fabien Barcella, Sebastien Chabal, Thierry Dusautoir, Lionel Faure, Imanol Harinordoquy, Benoit Lecouls, Nicolas Mas, Romain Millo-Chluski, Lionel Nallet, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Louis Picamoles, Dimitri Szarzewski, Benjamin Kayser. Backs: Benoit Baby, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Cedric Heymans, Yannick Jauzion, Julien Malzieu, Maxime Medard, Alexis Palisson, David Skrela, Sebastien Tillous-Bordes, Damien Traille.
