Noves brings in big guns for Durban battle

DURBAN: It needs to be remembered that the French are coming off the back of their long domestic season, in fact, the final between Toulon and Clermont was played the week before the Loftus Test.

Because of that tight schedule, the French allowed their players from those clubs to have the week off, although they were required to fly out to South Africa in the week leading up to the first Test.

Now, with the second test in Durban looming, French coach Guy Noves can call in his big guns in the hope of reversing the result. There are a host of class players, players that would definitely be in the starting line-up on any other day.

Toulon hooker Guilhem Guirado is set to take his spot in the No 2 jumper, and pick up the captaincy along with it. Another Toulon man, the experienced Francois Trinh-Duc, could also slot straight in after flying in for the injured Camille Lopez.

Noves has also flown in Clermont lock Paul Jedrasiak for injured club teammate Arthur Iturria.

In total, Noves could call on seven finalist to bolster his squad, and many of those players are key experienced Test players.

From Toulon, loosehead prop Xavier Chiocci could partner captain Guirado in the front row, while athletic lock Romain Taofifenua will add to their ball carries.

The whispers are that Trinh-Duc will start in Durban, and he could be joined by Clermont backs Damian Penaud and South African-born Scott Spedding.

It remains to be seen if coach Noves will make wholesale changes in the wakes of what must be considered quite an embarrassing loss for the French. There is much merit in keeping continuity, but with up to seven frontline players missing from action, the side that played at Loftus could almost be described as a B-side.

Captain for the day last Saturday, Yoann Maestri, was incredibly succinct in his assessment of what needs to improved when interviewed after the match, stating simply – ‘everything’.

The Boks have said already this week that they are expecting a huge backlash from the French, and that they expect everything to be thrown at them. The French are too proud to let the Springboks walk all over them again, and be assured, those players who watched from the stands last week will be raring to go this week.