France v Tonga (Sat)

Parra played at fly-half in the 37-17 defeat by New Zealand

France coach Marc Lievremont has made three changes to his XV for Saturday’s World Cup Pool A clash with Tonga.

In come hooker William Servat, number eight Raphael Lakafia and winger Alexis Palisson, while Maxime Medard switches from the wing to full-back.

Dimitri Szarzewski, Louis Picamoles and Damian Traille drop out, but Lievremont sticks with Morgan Parra at fly-half, with Dimitri Yachvili at half-back.

Tonga have recalled captain Finau Maka among four changes to their side.

Maka, a former team-mate of five of the French side from his time with Toulouse, takes over from Sione Vaiomo’unga at open-side, while the experienced Kisi Pulu starts at tight-head instead of Taufa’ao Filise.

There are also two changes in the backs, Viliame Iongi coming in for Fetu’u Vainikolo on the right wing and Andrew Ma’ilei taking over at centre from Alipate Fatafehi, who drops to the bench.

Tonga, after losing to New Zealand and Canada and beating Japan, can still mathematically qualify if they score four tries and win by more than seven points, denying France a bonus point.

France need a single point to join the All Blacks in qualifying from Pool A, and booking a quarter-final against the winner of England’s group.

Lievremont remains optimistic, despite a 37-17 defeat to New Zealand last time out – and has defended his decision to stick with regular scrum-half Parra at fly-half.

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Francois [Trinh-Duc] is lucky enough to be in the squad, there are others who aren’t

Marc Lievremont
France coach

“Morgan impressed us in training all (last) week and with his performance against the All Blacks,” he said. “He’s earned the right to play at No. 10 again.”

Lievremont also challenged Francois Trinh-Duc to make an impact as a replacement after benching the back again.

“Francois is lucky enough to be in the squad, there are others who aren’t,” he said.

“I want him to carry on showing his investment, and, if he comes on, to show the same attitude he did against the All Blacks.”

Tonga captain Maka believes his decade at Toulouse has helped identify two potential weaknesses – the French midfield and front rows – that Tonga can exploit.

“I think maybe their centres (Maxime Mermoz and Aurelien Rougerie) are quite weak, just because I think Rougerie’s not a centre, and he and Maxime haven’t played together for a long time,” Maka said.

“Also maybe their front row. We can target their scrum.”

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.

Tonga: Vungakoto Lilo; Viliame Iongi, Siale Piutau, Andrew Ma’ilei, Sukanaivalu Hufanga; Kurt Morath, Taniela Moa; Soane Tonga’uiha, Aleki Lutui, Kisi Pulu, Tukulua Lokotui, Paino Hehea, Sione Kalamafoni, Finau Maka (capt), Viliami Ma’afu.

Replacements: Ephraim Taukafa, Alisona Taumalolo, Halani Aulika, Joseph Tuineau, Samiu Vahafolau, Samisoni Fisilau, Alipate Fatafehi.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14830039.stm