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France rugby coach opts for exuberance instead of experience

France coach Marc Lievremont has taken a calculated risk by opting for youth over experience in selecting his side to take on England in Paris today.

Underlining his conviction that age is no barrier, he notably has chosen youngsters with just five caps between them to play in the pivotal positions of No. 8, scrumhalf and flyhalf.

Louis Picamoles at 22 will make his first start at No. 8 having come on as a replacement in the 26-21 win over Ireland, Morgan Parra at 19 will be at scrumhalf because Jean-Baptiste Elisslade is injured and the 21-year-old Francois Trinh-Duc wins his third cap and second start at flyhalf.

Trinh-Duc said he loved playing alongside Parra.

"I am a little surprised that we are going to line up with each other," said the Montpellier outside half, who will form the youngest French halfback pairing since 19-year-old Clovis Bioussa and Philippe Struxiano played in the 11-8 loss to Wales in Paris in 1913. "But it has given us a lot of pleasure that that is the case."
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