Baptism of fire for 19-year-old flyhalf

– France will host the World Cup in five years time and coach Jacques Brunel appeared to have one eye on that objective with his opening Six Nations team selection against Ireland today.

Brunel opted for teenage flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert (right), a player to whom he handed a senior debut at Bordeaux-Begles less than five months ago before he was hired as coach following Guy Noves’ departure in December.

While the selectors will hope Brunel brings about a change in their fortunes, the 64-yearold seems to have maintained a search begun by Noves during his two-year spell in charge: the quest to find a French equivalent of Jonny Wilkinson or Dan Carter.

At just 19 and with only 15 senior appearances under his belt, Jalibert appears to be a choice for the future despite Brunel’s insistence he wants to try and win the 2018 Six Nations title.

And even if he doesn’t turn out to be as good as a Wilkinson or Carter, Brunel believes Jalibert could at least emulate versatile former international halfback Frederik Michalak, a player who made his France debut 16 years ago, just a month after turning 19.

“Remember a certain Michalak, for whom everything went very quickly,” said Brunel.

It continues a trend in France in which a number of talented young half-backs have been thrust into the international arena.

Baptiste Serin was 22 when he spent most of last year’s Six Nations as first choice scrum-half before giving way to 20-year-old Antoine Dupont in November.

One of Noves’s last acts was to align a stunningly young and inexperienced halfback pair against world champions New Zealand in November, as 21-year-old Anthony Belleau lined up outside Dupont – the French were thumped 38-18.

Both will be on the bench against Ireland as hopes are pinned on Jalibert’s young shoulders, although Brunel has opted to select Maxime Machenaud, 29, as his half-back partner.

France have won only one of their last seven matches against Ireland. – AFP