Jauzion was dropped in favour of Mermoz for the Six Nations opener against Scotland © Getty Images

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Matches: France 34 - 21 Scotland

Players/Officials: Yannick Jauzion | Marc Lievremont

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations

Teams: France | Ireland | Scotland

France have recalled centre Yannick Jauzion for next Saturday's Six Nations showdown with Ireland following a season-ending injury to Maxime Mermoz.

Jauzion lost his place for yesterday's 34-21 victory but Mermoz suffered a shoulder injury at the Stade de France that is reportedly set to rule him out action for the remainder of the season.

The 32-year-old Jauzion, who notched two tries in last year's Grand Slam campaign, boasts 70 Test caps but was one of those to pay the price for France's 59-16 drubbing at the hands of Australia in November.

"Yannick was to set to play for Toulouse against La Rochelle [in the Top 14] but instead he will play in Dublin and I don't think he will complain," said Lievremont. "He was obviously disappointed to be left out of the squad that played Scotland but I wanted to see Maxime Mermoz in action. This injury allows him to come back in and he certainly has a desire to prove his worth. He is a real competitor, which I have never doubted, and so much more than a spare wheel. If I recall him it means that I trust him."

Further tests on Mermoz's injury revealed severe ligament damage and the Perpignan star is set for surgery that will leave him facing a race to prove his fitness for the World Cup later in the year.

Aside from the Mermoz blow, Lievremont was relieved to see his side return to winning ways against the Scots. "It's a win which is the first thing," said the coach. "But I was happy with the performance which had a lot of rhythm, intensity and we were good at the basics. We respect the Scots and they gave us a good game. But at the end of it I am very happy and it came after a not very easy preparation because of what happened before."

Captain Thierry Dusautoir was also a relieved man and revealed that his side's confidence had taken a battering in the wake of the defeat to Australia. "Two months ago, we were all very worried," he said following yesterday's game. We all had pin-pointed February 5 and this game. We tried to forget everything. We just focused on the victory and the game. We were very pleased with the result.

"We knew the Scottish team was going to be difficult and we are very satisfied with the result. We are quite happy to have won this game and I hope it will be okay next week. We played really well, but there is some stuff to work on next week. It's good to win and have something to work from. I hope we will be better next week against Ireland."

France squad to face Ireland:

Forwards: Domingo (Clermont), Marconnet (Biarritz), Guirado (Perpignan), Servat (Toulouse), Ducalcon (Castres), Mas (Perpignan), Nallet (Racing-Metro), Thion (Biarritz), Pierre (Clermont), Bonnaire (Clermont), Dusautoir (Toulouse), Chabal (Racing-Metro), Harinordoquy (Biarritz).

Backs: Parra (Clermont), Yachvili (Biarritz), Traille (Biarritz), Trinh Duc (Montpellier), Jauzion (Toulouse), Rougerie (Clermont), Clerc (Toulouse), Huget (Bayonne), Medard (Toulouse), Poitrenaud ( Toulouse), Traille (Biarritz)