France suffer Yachvili blow

Dimitri Yachvili has been ruled out of France's Six Nations match against Ireland on Saturday, his place at scrumhalf being taken by Clermont's Morgan Parra.

The 31-year-old, who has won 60 caps for France and is a master goal-kicker, is suffering from acute lumbago (painful condition of the lower back), which has failed to improve despite treatement.

"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 halfback said.

Stade Francais' Julien Dupuy was called up to the bench to replace Parra.

France (revised): 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Imanol Harinordoquy, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Pascal Pape, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitry Szarzewski, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements: 16 William Servat, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Lionel Nallet, 19 Julien Bonnaire, 20 Julien Dupuy, 21 Lionel Beauxis, 22 Maxime Mermoz.

Date: Saturday, February 11
Kick-off: 21.00 (20.00 GMT)
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Andrew Small (England)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)

AFP