RugbyU: Unchanged France Deserve Second Chance, Says Noves

Zeeshan Mehtab Published November 16, 2017 | 10:35 PM

France coach Guy Noves on Thursday said his players deserved a "second chance" after naming an unchanged XV for Saturday's Test against South Africa at the Stade de France (kick-off 1945GMT)

Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Nov, 2017 ) :France coach Guy Noves on Thursday said his players deserved a "second chance" after naming an unchanged XV for Saturday's Test against South Africa at the Stade de France (kick-off 1945GMT).

The only change from last Saturday's 38-18 defeat to New Zealand is on the bench where uncapped Bordeaux-Begles prop Sebastien Taofifenua replaces Clermont's Raphael Chaume, who was injured on his debut last week.

"This team has a potential that we weren't able to see during their first Test," said Noves. "We weren't going to throw to the dogs players some of whom were playing for the first time. "I believe this team has the right to make amends in this second performance." Having given five players a first taste of international action last week, Noves has only one uncapped player, Taofifenua, in his matchday 23 this time.

It means fly-half Anthony Belleau, centre Geoffrey Doumayrou, flanker Paul Gabrillagues and lock Judicael Cancoriet all earn a second cap despite relatively indifferent debuts last week.

Fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc keeps his place on the bench despite playing an hour for a French XV against a second-string All Blacks in Lyon on Tuesday, a 28-23 defeat.

Trinh-Duc had played only a handful of minutes last weekend against New Zealand. "He played a good part of the match on Tuesday night. Essentially he's as battered as someone who's played a match five days earlier," said Noves.

"But I decided that, after having played just five minutes in the first match and three-quarters of the second, he could hold his place for the third Test." Trinh-Duc is the only player among those to have faced New Zealand last weekend and to tackle the Springboks on Saturday who also featured on Tuesday, when wing Gabriel Lacroix and second row Sekou Macalou both impressed.