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WORLD SPORT

Castaignede regains fly-half spot

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Castaignede has won 19 of his 50 caps in the fly-half position.

MARCOUSSIS, France -- France coach Bernard Laporte has given Thomas Castaignede his first start at fly-half for six years in the team to face Romania in Bucharest on Saturday.

The 31-year-old Saracens player will take over the number 10 jersey from Frederic Michalak, who has been ruled out of the June tour because of a shoulder injury suffered in the French championship final last Saturday.

"We want to use this tour to look at another option at fly-half with the 2007 World Cup in mind", team manager Jo Maso told a news conference.

"We decided that Thomas was the best solution because he is not new to the position."

Castaignede made his international debut in 1995 and was arguably the world's best fly-half at the end of the 1990s before his career was hit by injuries.

He has won 19 of his 50 caps at fly-half, the last against England in the 2000 Six Nations.

He has been selected at fullback or center since he was recalled to international action in November after a two-year break because of a lack of form and injuries.

Laporte named two newcomers in his starting line-up, prop David Attoub and flanker Thierry Dusautoir.

Romania flanker Ovidiu Tonita is injured and will miss Saturday's match.

"Tonita is 99 percent out of the squad," Romania coach Robert Antonin told reporters on Wednesday.

"He suffered a blow on his right thigh during Perpignan's match against Brive and this is Romania's great loss against France.

"Now we have to make a strong team without Tonita but this is not the last bad news," Antonin said.

Antonin said two other players could also miss the game.

"Props Petrisor Toderasc and Cezar Popescu were injured during the training sessions and both are doubtful for the match."

After facing Romania, France will travel to South Africa for a single test against the Springboks in Cape Town on June 24.

Gregan steps down

Australia captain George Gregan has been dropped to the bench for the second test against England in Melbourne on Saturday, but is expected to make an appearance and break the world record for international caps.

Gregan equaled England prop Jason Leonard's mark of 119 caps in the 34-3 hammering of the world champions in the opener at Sydney on Sunday, and his demotion is one of three changes made by coach John Connolly.

Stirling Mortlock becomes Australia's 73rd skipper with Queensland's Sam Cordingley coming in to replace Gregan at scrumhalf, ending a six-year absence from the international scene.

Waratahs hooker Adam Freier makes his first appearance in a starting line-up in place of Tai McIsaac, and Mark Chisolm replaces the injured Daniel Heenan at blindside flanker.

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