2008-03-07 17:55:44 -
PARIS (AP) - France captain Lionel Nallet is excited about leading out a youthful team against Italy in the Six Nations on Sunday, where victory would keep the defending champion on course for a third straight title.
The 31-year-old lock is one of the oldest players in coach Marc Lievremont's reshuffled team, which features three new
faces among the starters and another two on the bench.
«The staff told me to integrate the new players,» Nallet said. «I'm not against this idea. I even think it is good to send out a message that every player who does well has a chance of getting into the France team.
Prop Fabien Barcella, flanker Ibrahim Diarra and center Yann David will play their first internationals, while replacements Guillem Guirado and Julien Tomas could feature at some stage.
Standout center Yannick Jauzion returns for his first match since the third-place match against Argentina at last year's World Cup, one of nine changes from the 24-13 loss to England.
A third win in four matches would send France into its final match with Wales in good shape, but hopes of a Grand Slam disappeared after the England defeat on Feb. 23.
After a good start, Italy is trying to avoid a fourth straight loss after falling 16-11 away to Ireland, 23-19 at home to England and then being thumped 47-8 away to Wales.
Sunday's match at Stade de France will likely see more experimenting from Les Tricolores.
Lievremont has used a total of 28 players so far, and has encountered some criticism along the way, notably after selecting novice halfback pairing Morgan Parra (scrumhalf) and Francois Trinh-Duc (flyhalf) _ and playing without a recognized kicker _ against England.
Lievremont wants to try more attacking options against Italy, but has selected a kicker this time with scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili in alongside Trinh-Duc.
The current French team is distancing itself from the more cautious approach adopted by predecessor Bernard Laporte.
«A new style, a new team,» Yachvili said. «It is totally different from what was done before.
However, there is one similarity as Lievremont keeps changing his halfback pairing. That was one of the biggest criticisms leveled at Laporte, who changed his 9-10 combination 32 times.
Trinh-Duc seems to be closer to becoming a first-choice player, and will start for the third time in four matches.
«It's true that a lot a players have been tried,» Trinh-Duc said. «I am here from the start. I will try and hold on, to stay every week. I am trying to improve, to learn.
Yachvili, who featured alongside numerous No. 10's under Laporte without ever making the No. 9 jersey his own, is looking forward to playing for the first time alongside Trinh-Duc.
«It's going well,» Yachvili said. «He is a young player who takes his responsibilities, who talks a lot. I try to help him feel more confident. He likes to play attacking rugby so I will make my myself available to give him good passes.
Italy will give former captain Marco Bortolami his first start since the World Cup following injuries.
Bortolami missed Italy's matches against Ireland and England because of neck and eye injuries, but went in as a substitute against Wales.
Winger Kaine Robertson and loosehead prop Andrea Lo Cicero also were recalled, and openside flanker Alessandro Zanni replaces Mauro Bergamasco, who was banned for 13 weeks for eye-gouging against Wales.
