Changes for French team

Press, 11 February 1988, Page 31

Changes for French team

NZPA-Reuter Paris France has made five changes, four of them in the pack, for the Five Nations rugby union championship match against Ireland on February 20 following Saturday’s 23-12 loss to Scotland.

The championship has been a severe disappointment to French fans, delighted after the national side reached the final of the inaugural World Cup last year having won the 1987 Five Nations title without losing a game.

The Scotland loss was preceded by an unconvincing 109 win over England and in the purge announced on Tuesday, the veteran lock, Jean Condom, the flankers Dominique Erbani and Eric Champ and the forward, BEJ

Jean-Pierre Garuet, all lost their places. Also axed was flyhalf JeanPatrick Lescarboura, who finds himself on the replacements’ bench. Of those brought into the team, the flanker, Marc Cecillon is the only new cap. The others were given recalls to try to liven up and strengthen a French pack that was outjumped, outshoved and outrun by the Scots. Flanker Alain Carminati of Beziers was selected to add pace to the back row, while Pascal Ondarts, of Biarritz, replaces Garuet, probably ending that veteran’s international career. Toulon’s Jean-Charles Orso, out of the national squad since 1985, takes over from

Condom. Lescarboura's place goes to the equally experienced Didier Camberabero, who in his last international appearance played out of position on the wing in the World Cup final in June against New Zealand. The French team is: Serge Blanco; Philippe Berot, Philippe Sella, Marc Andrieu,. Patrice Lagisquet; Didier Camberadbero, Pierre Berbizier; Laurent Rodriguez, Alain Carminati, Alain. Lorieux, Jean-Charles Orso, Marc Cecillon, Pascal Ondarts, Daniel Durbroca (captain), Louis Armary. Replacement: Philippe Dintrans, Jean-Pierre Garuet, Henri Sanz, Jean-Patrick Lescarboura, Denis Charvet, Dominique Erbani.