Yannick Jauzion left out to give France 'impetus'

France coach Marc Lievremont says a desire for more "impetus" from his midfield was the main reason behind his decision to drop centre Yannick Jauzion from his side to face Scotland in their RBS Six Nations opener in Paris on Saturday.

The 32-year-old Toulouse ace, who has won 70 caps, has been the fulcrum of Les Bleus' midfield play for much of the last decade but finds himself left out of the matchday 22 as Maxime Mermoz and Aurelien Rougerie are Lievremont's preferred combination.

Jauzion's guile would be missed by most sides but the more direct approach of Perpignan ace Mermoz and Clermont Auvergne's Rougerie is what Lievremont thinks will be needed to unlock the Scottish defence. "We opted for a three-quarter line with a lot of punch. We want some impetus," Lievremont told reporters.

"To go without somebody like Yannick Jauzion, considering what he represents from a human and a sporting point of view, was not easy. But after a complicated year, Maxime Mermoz is in the form of his life. He forms a good attacking triangle with Francois Trinh-Duc and Aurelien Rougerie."

The inclusion of Mermoz at Jauzion's expense is one of six changes from the side crushed 59-16 by Australia in Paris at the end of November, the other changes behind the scrum see Francois Trinh-Duc restored to fly-half with Maxime Medard on the wing and Damien Traille shifted back to full-back.

Traille had started the Wallabies humbling at number 10, but his powerful boot will instead be utilised from the number 15 slot.

Lievremont, who has taken on some of the workload of scrum coach Didier Retiere and backs coach Emile Ntamack in an effort to arrest an alarming slump in form which has seen France concede over 40 points in three of their last five Tests, is sure the Biarritz man will be up to the task. He said: "I have often considered him in the full-back position. He is very good in defence and in the air.

Build-up to the six nations

• Andy Robinson picks side that will take fight to French

• Midfield partnership of Joe Ansbro and Nick De Luca promise to provide spark in Paris

• Yannick Jauzion left out to give France 'impetus'

He is also good when he counter-attacks and brings an extra kicking option."

Lievremont has also reshuffled his back row, with Racing Metro's Sebastien Chabal and Montpellier's Fulgence Ouedraogo making way for Julien Bonnaire and Imanol Harinordoquy, the player of the tournament during France's Grand Slam success in last year's tournament.France team

15 D Traille (Biarritz)

14 Y Huget (Bayonne)

13 A Rougerie (C'mont Auvergne)

12 M Mermoz (Perpignan)

11 M Medard (Toulouse)

10 F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier)

9 M Parra (C'mont Auvergne)

1 T Domingo (C'mont Auvergne)

2 W Servat (Toulouse)

3 N Mas (Perpignan

4 J Pierre (C'mont Auvergne)

5 L Nallet (Racing Metro)

6 T Dusautoir (Toulouse) capt

7 J Bonnaire (C'mont Auvergne)

8 I Harinordoquy (Biarritz)

Subs

G Guirado (Perpignan), L Ducalcon (Castres), J Thion (Biarritz), S Chabal (Racing Metro), D Yachvili (Biarritz), D Skrela (Toulouse), C Poitrenaud (Toulouse)..