Lievremont demands more French fight

France head coach Marc Lievremont has ordered his much-changed pack to front up against Scotland on Saturday after admitting they were taught a lesson in aggression in the defeat to Ireland last weekend.

Les Bleus' forwards were outmuscled and outfought by their wily Irish counterparts in the 30-21 defeat at Croke Park on Saturday, and Lievremont revealed it had hit his team hard.

Three of the four changes made by Lievremont for the match against Scotland in Paris come in the pack, and it is in that department that the France boss is demanding improvement.

"If there was a failing (against Ireland), it was a collective one," Lievremont said. "Even some exemplary players, like Dimitri Szarzewski and Thierry Dusautoir, lost more one-on-ones than normal. Our ball-carriers also had a bad time. We lacked intensity and durability overall."

He added: "For the first time in a year, we have been deficient up front.

"People have spoken a lot about our style of play but having fight is the premier element in this sport. We have obviously talked about this between ourselves."

Fabien Barcella, Nicolas Mas and Romain Millo-Chluski come in for Lionel Faure, Benoit Lecouls and Sebastien Chabal.

The other change for Saturday's Stade de France showdown sees Cedric Heymans come in for Julien Malzieu on the left wing, meaning that behind the half-backs, there is now an all-Toulouse back division.

But it is in the forwards where the focus will be on against the Scots.

Toulouse prop Lecouls was ruled out on Sunday so Mas was always likely to come in as his replacement, while the dropping of Sale's Faure was also previewed to give the fresher Barcella a run-out.