Bastareaud returns for France against Wales

PARIS – Centre Mathieu Bastareaud will start a France game for the first time in almost three years after he was named in the team to take on Wales in the Six Nations championship on Saturday.

Friday, February 08, 2013
Bastareaud - who has 10 caps for France - has been rewarded for his strong performances with his club Toulon. Net photo.

TodayScotland     vs     Italy         16:15 SS1France     vs     Wales      18:30 SS1SundayIreland     vs     England  16:30 SS1PARIS – Centre Mathieu Bastareaud will start a France game for the first time in almost three years after he was named in the team to take on Wales in the Six Nations championship on Saturday.Bastareaud, who has been chosen at the expense of Florian Fritz in one of two changes to the side which lost 23-18 in Italy in last Sunday’s opener, started his last game with Les Bleus in a 2010 Six Nations match against England.Manager Philippe Saint-Andre handed Jocelino Suta a start at lock to make up for the absence of Pascal Pape, who pulled out with a back injury.Bastareaud - who has 10 caps for France - has been rewarded for his strong performances with his club Toulon, who lead the French Top 14.The 24-year-old had been overlooked in recent years because of poor form after being omitted following off-the-pitch troubles in 2009.Saint-Andre otherwise kept faith with the team who were outplayed in the shock in Rome."You say you don’t change a winning team. Well, we say we don’t change a losing team. The players need to bounce back,” he said.