France turn to the brilliant boot of Beauxis

By David Ferguson

FRANCE have turned to Lionel Beauxis, one of their most promising young players, to lead the attack against Scotland tomorrow and help retain the RBS Six Nations title.

The Stade Francais stand-off, voted the World Under-21 Player of the Year at the IRB awards ceremony in Glasgow in November, will replace his older clubmate David Skrela in the starting line-up after Skrela failed to complete training yesterday.

The 28-year-old, recalled last month after more than five years in the Test wilderness, had been struggling to recover from a tibia injury sustained in the defeat to England last weekend. Both Skrela and Beauxis were named in the team on Wednesday in case Skrela did not recover, and after he broke down in training yesterday, Jo Maso, the France team manager confirmed: "David is only at 70 per cent of his potential. When he runs it is okay, but to kick and do the other tasks it is not."

Skrela admitted: "I would love to be 100 per cent and to be able to play, but the pain prevents me [from doing so]. I prefer to relinquish my place and I am very happy for Lionel, who is going to be able to start his first match in this Six Nations tournament."

Beauxis is a phenomenal kicker renowned for sending missile-like kicks 70 metres downfield, but he is not quick and so is not known for silky breaks or tries. He has been vying with Skrela for the No 10 jersey at Stade Francais this season, with the older player starting more of the big games.

However, with Frederic Michalak injured and Damien Traille not considered a great success in the autumn, Bernard Laporte, the France coach, opted to have a look at the Stade Francais players in this championship and had been impressed by Skrela. Beauxis has come off the bench in the first four games and rather than return to Traille, who now provides bench cover, Laporte has handed the 21-year-old his first starting opportunity.

Wasps forward James Haskell will make his England debut in tomorrow's clash against Wales at the Millennium Stadium. The 21-year-old will start at blindside with Joe Worsley switching to No 8 after Nick Easter withdrew through injury. Easter is suffering from residual pain and restriction of his movement in his neck, and Haskell's promotion means England will field an all-Wasps back-row in Cardiff.

Italy will be without suspended flanker Mauro Bergamasco and prop Andrea Lo Cicero, who has a fever, for the visit of Ireland. Coach Pierre Berbizier again chooses Ramiro Pez at fly-half, relegating Andrea Scanavacca to the bench.

Maurizio Zaffiri will replace Bergamasco and Salvatore Perugini will step in for Lo Cicero. Ezio Galon replaces injured Gonzalo Canale at centre.

Italy team (to play Ireland at Stadio Flaminio, Rome, tomorrow): R De Marigny (Calvisano), K Robertson (Viadana), E Galon (Parma), M Bergamasco (Stade Francais), M Pratichetti (Calvisano), R Pez (Bayonne), A Troncon (Clermont Auvergne); S Perugini (Toulouse), C Festuccia (Parma), C Nieto (Gloucester), S Dellape (Biarritz), M Bortolami (Gloucester), A Zanni (Calvisano), M Zaffiri (Calvisano), S Parisse (Stade Francais). Subs: L Ghiraldini (Calvisano), F Staibano (Parma), V Bernabo (Calvisano), J Sole (Viadana), P Griffen (Calvisano), A Scanavacca (Calvisano), M Barbini (Treviso).

FIXTURES (7.45 unless stated)

Six Nations Under-21 Championship: France U21 v Scotland U20 (Bourg-en-Bresse, 4.30pm).

Guinness Premiership: Worcester v Newcastle (8pm).