Position – Scrum-half
Date of birth – 19 Sep, 1980
Place of birth – Brive, France
Test debut – 23 Nov, 2002, v Canada
Height – 6′ 0′
Weight – 12st 10lb
Tests – 4 (18 points)
Yachvili earns his place after some performances during Biarritz’s run to the Heineken Cup quarter-finals this season.
The goal-kicking No 9 comes from a rugby family – father Michel played 15 Tests at hooker for France between 1968-75, while elder brother Gregoire is in the current Georgia side.
The pair will join New Zealand’s Bachops, Graeme and Stephen, as the only brothers to appear at the same World Cup if they are selected for Australia later this season.
Yachvili’s sniping runs and accurate goal-kicking make him a worthy replacement for injured captain Fabien Galthie, and his 18 points against Italy last weekend mark him down as a dangerous opponent.
Both his father, and his grandfather represented France at international level.
OLIVIER MAGNE
THOMAS CASTAIGNEDE
