France v Tonga, Rugby World Cup, October 1
Lievremont persists with Parra at ten
ESPNscrum Staff
September 26, 2011
France head coach Marc Lievremont shrugs his shoulders in response to a journalist's question, France press conference, Rugby World Cup, Auckland, New Zealand, September 25, 2011
France boss Marc Lievremont has again selected Morgan Parra at fly-half © Getty Images
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Teams: France | Tonga

Morgan Parra will again start at fly-half for France in Saturday's vital Rugby World Cup clash with Tonga in Wellington.

Les Bleus boss Marc Lievremont was slated for his decision to hand Parra, a scrum-half by trade, a first ever start at fly-half in Test rugby against the All Blacks in Auckland on Saturday. However, even though the French were routed 37-17, with Parra struggling to impose himself on the game, Lievremont has decided to once again pair the Clermont No.9 with Dimitri Yachvili in the half-backs.

Elsewhere in the backline, Maxime Medard takes over at fullback from Damien Traille, who drops out of the 22, and that switch facilitates a recall for Alexis Palisson on the left wing.

In the pack, William Servat returns at hooker in place of Dimitri Szarzewski, while Raphael Lakafia is preferred to Louis Picamoles at No.8.

France: Maxime Medard; Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson; Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili; Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Luc Ducalcon; Pascal Pape, Lionel Nallet; Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Julien Bonnaire, Raphael Lakafia.

Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Fabien Barcella, Julien Pierre, Imanol Harinordoquy, Francois Trinh-Duc, Fabrice Estebanez, Cedric Heymans.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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