Unchanged French squad for Scots

France have named an unchanged 23-strong squad for the Six Nations game against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 26.

The squad had been on duty at the Stade de France last Saturday to take on Ireland only for the game to be called off minutes before the kick-off due to the frozen state of the pitch.

Stade Francais scrumhalf Julien Dupuy retains his place in the squad having been brought in last week to replace the injured Biarritz No.9 Dimitri Yachvili.

"He [Yachvili] is doubtful for the Top 14 match this weekend and for us it made more sense to keep the squad we had intact," said coach Philippe Saint-Andre.

"All the players prepared together [for Ireland]. It was difficult for us to take one of them out."

Saint-Andre, who took over as coach from Marc Lievremont after the World Cup in New Zealand, will reveal his starting line-up for the Scotland game next Tuesday.

France defeated Italy 30-12 in their Six Nations opener in Paris before the postponement of the Ireland game.

French squad:

Forwards: Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), David Attoub (Stade Francais), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Toulouse), William Servat (Toulouse), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Francais), Pascal Pape (Stade Français), Lionel Nallet (Racing-Metro), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse).

Backs: Morgan Parra (Clermont), Julien Dupuy (Stade Francais), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Lionel Beauxis (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan), Aurelien Rougerie (Clermont), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Julien Malzieu (Clermont), Maxime Medard (Toulouse).

AFP