TNT Sports
France name squad
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Published 28/10/2003 at 11:07 GMT
Coach Bernard Laporte gave his first-string players a huge vote of confidence by naming France's team for the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday -- 13 days before kick-off. "Barring injuries, the 15 players who played against Scotland are on the starting
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"There still are some places up for grabs in the 22," he added.
"The players who will play on Saturday are in competition for a berth on the replacement's bench for prop, lock, backrow, centre and wing positions."
France have already made sure of topping their pool after three impressive victories and will meet either Australia or Ireland in the quarters.
If the French coach stays true to his word, France will field props Jean-Jacques Crenca and Sylvain Marconnet, hooker Raphael Ibanez, locks Fabien Pelous and Jerome Thion, number eight Imanol Harnordoquy and flankers Olivier Magne and Serge Betsen.
Captain Fabien Galthie and Frederic Michalak will be the halfbacks, with Christophe Dominici and Aurelien Rougerie the wingers, Tony Marsh and Yannick Jauzion in the centre and Nicolas Brusque at fullback.
With the exception of tighthead prop Marconnet, who was recovering from a leg injury, the same team also played in France's World Cup opening game against Fiji.
All of them will be rested against the U.S. on Friday in Wollongong.
After wins over Fiji and Japan and an awesome demolition 51-9 of Scotland, France will face the loser of Saturday's last group A game between defending champions Australia and Ireland in Melbourne on November 9.
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