Skip to main content
The Web    CNN.com      Powered by
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SERVICES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SEARCH
Web CNN.com
powered by Yahoo!
World Sport

Grayson is back to face the French


story.grayson2.afp.jpg
Grayson's form has brought him 400 points from 32 internationals

Story Tools

BAGSHOT, England -- World champions England have recalled experienced Paul Grayson at flyhalf for Saturday's Six Nations decider against France in Paris.

Grayson missed last weekend's 31-21 win over Wales with a calf strain but now reclaims his place from 22-year-old Olly Barkley who scored 16 points.

Towering Imanol Harinordoquy replaces Thomas Lievremont at No. 8 for France after sitting out Sunday's 31-0 win over Scotland with an injured elbow.

England are without flanker Chris Jones who has not recovered from the hand injury that forced him out of Saturday's game at halftime.

Jones is replaced by Joe Worsley while Barkley, praised by coach Sir Clive Woodward after his fine first outing, does not even win a slot among the replacements.

Worsley's promotion off the bench means that back row forward Martin Corry features in England's 22 for the first time since the World Cup.

Lievremont returns to the French bench as head coach Bernard Laporte restores his World Cup back row of Harinordoquy, Olivier Magne and Serge Betsen.

"Imanol is a key player," said Laporte.

"He's our best lineout jumper on the opposition throw and if he's not quite as strong as Lievremont he is very effective in open play."

Flyhalf Frederic Michalak, who was substituted at halftime at Murrayfield after sustaining a neck injury, has been declared fit and will start the game.

Team manager Jo Maso said that France were relishing the challenge of facing England with a grand slam at stake.

"England have lost two major players, Martin Johnson and Jonny Wilkinson since the World Cup. They also suffered their first defeat as World Champions against Ireland and that could be a psychological blow," he said.

'War machine'

"They still are a war machine. They tore the Welsh to pieces in the last 20 minutes last weekend."

After wins over Ireland, Italy, Wales and Scotland, France are the only team who can complete a grand slam, potentially their fourth in eight years and their eighth in the history of the championship.

Montferrand's Pierre Mignoni, 13 caps, is called up as scrum-half cover -- an option Laporte did not take out for the Scotland match -- and replaces wing Vincent Clerc on the bench.

Laporte has delayed training until Wednesday to allow players to recuperate.

"And we've been saying a prayer every night," he joked. "Seriously, though, I think this is the team to beat England."

And he is confident France have recovered from last year's World Cup semifinal defeat by their rivals.

"Sometimes you can use a bad memory like that to your advantage," he added.

England, who beat Italy, Scotland and Wales, could still retain the title on points difference if they win in Paris by an eight-point margin.

"We're going out to win the game and if we do that I will be very, very pleased," said Woodward.

"We just want to win in Paris and go home. If we win the championship, that's a bonus."

As before the World Cup semifinal, when, buffeted by criticism he insisted England were rank outsiders before they crushed France in Sydney, Woodward delivered the same verdict with a deadpan face.

"France are in fantastic form, just like they were in the World Cup. They're an awesome team, red-hot favourites, and I've picked our best possible side to beat them," he said.

ENGLAND: 15-Jason Robinson; 14-Josh Lewsey, 13-Will Greenwood, 12-Mike Tindall, 11-Ben Cohen; 10-Paul Grayson, 9-Matt Dawson; 8-Lawrence Dallaglio (captain), 7-Richard Hill, 6-Joe Worsley, 5-Ben Kay, 4-Danny Grewcock, 3-Phil Vickery, 2-Steve Thompson, 1-Trevor Woodman.

Replacements: 16-Mark Regan, 17-Julian White, 18-Steve Borthwick, 19-Martin Corry, 20-Andy Gomarsall, 21-Mike Catt, 22-James Simpson-Daniel.

FRANCE: 15-Nicolas Brusque; 14-Pepito Elhorga, 13-Yannick Jauzion, 12-Damien Traille, 11-Christophe Dominici; 10-Frederic Michalak, 9-Dimitri Yachvili; 8-Imanol Harinordoquy, 7-Olivier Magne, 6-Serge Betsen, 5-Pascal Pape, 4-Fabien Pelous (captain), 3-Pieter de Villiers, 2-William Servat, 1-Sylvain Marconnet

Replacements: 16-Yannick Bru, 17-Jean-Jacques Crenca, 18-David Auradou, 19-Thomas Lievremont, 20-Pierre Mignoni, 21-Julien Peyrelongue, 22-Clement Poitreneud.


Story Tools
Subscribe to Time for $1.99 cover
Top Stories
Three share U.S. Open lead
Top Stories
CNN/Money: Security alert issued for 40 million credit cards
 
 
 
 

International Edition
CNN TV CNN International Headline News Transcripts Advertise With Us About Us
SEARCH
   The Web    CNN.com     
Powered by
© 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us.
external link
All external sites will open in a new browser.
CNN.com does not endorse external sites.
 Premium content icon Denotes premium content.
Add RSS headlines.