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Hooker Raphael Ibanez will captain France during the World Cup later this year, team manager Jo Maso announced on Monday. He will take over from lock Fabien Pelous. The 34-year-old Ibanez, who currently plays with London side Wasps, was captain of the French team at the 1999 World Cup, taking the team to the final where they lost to Australia.

France coach Bernard Laporte has a simple plan to counter South Africa: keep hold of the ball. Laporte says that because of the Springboks’ counter-attacking speed, along with their physical strength, Les Tricolores must keep possession at the Stade de France on Saturday. ”We will need to be very wary and make sure we keep hold of the ball,” Laporte said on Thursday at the French training camp.

France on Monday unveiled five new faces in a 28-strong squad for the three-Test tour of South Africa and Australia from June 12 to July 4. Deprived of 101-time capped skipper Fabien Pelous, the team will have two co-captains in Biarritz duo Jerome Thion and Dimitri Yachvili.

France coach Bernard Laporte paid little heed to the 18-17 victory over England on Monday when he recalled three of last year’s Six Nations Grand Slam heroes for the crucial clash with Wales on February 26. He recalled number eight Imanol Harinordoquy, winger Aurelien Rougerie and centre Yannick Jauzion, France’s player of the year.