Laporte urges players to impress
June 11, 2003

On the eve of their opening tour game against Argentina in Buenos Aires, France coach Bernard Laporte has urged his players to earn their World Cup berth.

France face the Pumas before flying on to New Zealand to face the All Blacks and Laporte has remined his players that this is their last chance to impress.

Three weeks before the final choice, 22 of the 30 places have been more or less been allocated, with a further eight to be played for and will be unveiled for the World Cup on July 2.

Stalwarts Jean-Jacques Crenca, Raphael Ibanez, Fabien Pelous, Olivier Brouzet, Olivier Magne and Serge Betsen, are beingrested at home giving an opportunity to some World Cup hopefuls.

A choice has to be made between Jean-Baptiste Rue and Yannick Bru for a place behind Ibanez as hooker, as well as between newcomer Jerome Thion from Perpignan, Lionel Nallet and Thibault Privat for the fourth place in the second row.

The situation is even tighter in the backrow with five players Sebastien Chabal, Patrick Tabacco, Christain Labit, Jean Bouilhou, Elvis Vermeulen, fighting for three places.

In the centre, New Zealand-born centre Tony Marsh is uncertain after undergoing chemotherapy for a tumour, with Yannick Jauzion being tipped for the spot while Damien Traille and Thomas Castaignede are almost certain of a place.

On the wings, with David Bory absent, the fight for a place beside Xavier Garbajosa and Aurelien Rougerie looks to be between Toulouse speedster Vincent Clerc and veteran Christophe Dominici.

Last year the Pumas edged out their visitors 28-27.

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