Vermeulen called up for injured Chabal

Sunday 18th February 2007

Clermont back row forward Elvis Vermeulen has replaced the injured Sebastien Chabal in the French squad for their Six Nations encounter with Wales at Stade de France in Paris on Saturday.

The inclusion of Vermeulen is one of five changes to the match-day 22 that edged Ireland 20-17 at Croke Park last Sunday, to keep alive France's hopes of the Grand Slam.

Apart from the injury-enforced absence of Chabal, the changes are largely the result of coach Bernard Laporte rotating his players - trying to find his best combinations before the World Cup in France later this year.

Chabal, who has impressed in both his country's Six Nations matches so far, suffered a calf injury in his club Sale's Guinness Premiership match on Sunday. The Sharks suffered a 26-18 defeat at the hands of Wasps and appears to have lost the services of one of their key players.

Chabal came on after 60 minutes, but left the pitch nine minutes later limping.

The inclusion of Vermeulen comes after he himself has not played much rugby since January 26, except for a brief appearance as a replacement.

Other changes to the French side see Perpignan prop Nicolas Mas replace South African-born Pieter De Villiers, Biarritz hooker Benoit August coming in for Chabal's club mate Sebastien Bruno, while lock Gregory Lamboley of Toulouse is preferred to Pascal Pape.

There is just the one change among the backs with the previously suspended Aurelien Rougerie being recalled at the expense of Toulouse' Cedric Heymans, who scored one of France's tries in their opening win over Italy.

While France have opened with two wins, Wales by contrast have suffered two defeats, to the Irish and Scotland.

French squad:

Forwards: Raphael Ibanez (Wasps/ENG, captain), Benoit August (Biarritz), Olivier Milloud (Bourgoin), Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Franšais), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Lionel Nallet (Castres), Gregory Lamboley (Toulouse), Jerome Thion (Biarritz), Serge Betsen (Biarritz), Julien Bonnaire (Bourgoin), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Elvis Vermeulen (Clermont)

Backs: Pierre Mignoni (Clermont), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz), David Skrela (Stade Franšais), Lionel Beauxis (Stade Franšais), Yannick Jauzion (Toulouse), David Marty (Perpignan), Aurelien Rougerie (Clermont), Christophe Dominici (Stade Franšais), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Clement Poitrenaud (Toulouse)