Six Nations
Yachvili blow for France
ESPNscrum Staff
February 9, 2012
France's Dimitri Yachvili gets the pass away, France v Italy, Six Nations, Stade de France, Paris, France, February 4, 2012
Scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili contributed 10 points to France's opening Six Nations victory over Italy © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Morgan Parra | Dimitri Yachvili
Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations
Teams: France

Dimitri Yachvili has been ruled out of France's Six Nations showdown against Ireland on Saturday night with acute lumbago.

The 31-year-old No.9 started the 30-12 victory over Italy last weekend but will be replaced by Morgan Parra for the Ireland clash having failed to respond to treatment.

"I don't feel at 100 percent and I think it's more reasonable to rest and recuperate in a bid to be back as quickly as possible to prepare for the next challenges with my club and France," the Biarritz half-back said.

Coach Philippe Saint-Andre has also drafted Julien Dupuy onto the bench with the former Leicester No.9 in line for his first Test appearance since 2009. "We thought primarily of the player's well-being but the pain does not go," Saint-Andre said in a statement.

"In order not to damage the preparation of this important game, I decided to make a decision 48 hours ahead of the match and allow his successor to work with us during the next two days on the combinations that we have put in place for two weeks. I am obviously sad for Dimitri, who always brings a lot to France's game in regard to his experience and I wish him a speedy recovery."

As a result the side that will tackle the Irish will now show five changes to that which accounted for Italy on Saturday. Imanol Harinordoquy is promoted from the bench at the expense of flanker Julien Bonnaire, Jean-Baptiste Poux comes in at loose-head for Vincent Debaty, hooker Dimitri Szarzewski replaces William Servat, and Yoann Maestri gets the nod in the second row ahead of Lionel Nallet.

France: Maxime Médard; Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Wesley Fofana, Julien Malzieu; François Trinh-Duc, Morgan Parra; Jean-Baptiste Poux, Dimitri Szarzewski, Nicolas mas, Pascal Pape, Yoann Maestri, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Imanol Harinordoquy, Louis Picamoles.

Replacements: William Servat, Vincent Debaty, Lionel Nallet, Julien Bonnaire, Julien Dupuy, Lionel Beauxis, Maxime Mermoz

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