Trinh-Duc wants new chance

Francois Trinh-Duc said Wednesday he was desperate to pull back on the No.10 shirt for France when they go up against unbeaten England in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday.

The Montpellier playmaker was the preferred flyhalf under the reign of previous coach Marc Lievremont, linking up with Morgan Parra in a halfback partnership that took France into the World Cup Final in New Zealand.

But under new handler Philippe Saint-Andre he has seen his play-time for his country limited to just 68 minutes in five matches as preference has been given to Toulon's Frederic Michalak.

Yet with two morale-sapping defeats to date against Italy and Wales in this year's tournament, the time could be ripe for Saint-Andre to revert to Trinh-Duc, who has remained in the French squad.

The player himself has no doubts that he would be ready to take on the English who are now eyeing the prospect of a first Six Nations Grand Slam since the World Cup winning year of 2003.

"I really do want to play in this match after the November Tests and a tough start to the tournament with little play-time for myself," he said.

"I want to get that No.10 shirt on my back."

Trinh-Duc, whose paternal grand-father was Vietnamese, will find out on Thursday whether he is back in favour for a place in the starting lineup and he says he is fully aware of what will be at stake.

"A win over the English would rescue our tournament. We need to battle back from the bad start we have made."

AFP