A serious growth test for the new blue wave. Saturday (5:45 p.m.), Fabien Galthié's XV de France will challenge Wales at the Principality Stadium (ex-Millennium) in Cardiff. For a reunion expected after the quarterfinal of the last World Cup lost in Oita (19-20). No big upheaval to wait on the side of the Blues. According to information from RMC Sport , Damian Penaud, already forfeited against Italy and insufficiently recovered from his left calf injury, is forfeited for this third game of the Six Nations Tournament.
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In the absence of Clermontois and Rochelais Vincent Rattez (fracture of the fibula against the Nazionale), it is Gaël Fickou, captain of the tricolor defense, who will slide to the wing. The most experienced of the current French (53 selections) has already started five times as a winger in the French team. In the center, Virimi Vakatawa - absent from the Italians after being hit in the triceps - will return and be associated with Arthur Vincent, who will start in blue for the second time in a row.
Poirot out of 23?
For the rest, Fabien Galthié and his staff will trust the players who have had England (24-17) then Italy (35-22), according to RMC Sport and L'Equipe . The hooker Julien Marchand should thus continue against the XV of Leek despite the return to competition of Camille Chat, designated successor of Guilhem Guirado at the end of the last World Cup. On the front line, Mohamed Haouas and Cyril Baille, authors of remarkable performances, will continue in Cardiff.
On the substitutes' bench, there could however be movement. Left pillar Jefferson Poirot, French vice-captain at the last Japanese World Cup, could give way to Toulonais Jean-Baptiste Gros. The back of the Stade Toulousain, Thomas Ramos, not retained against the English and the Italians, could find a place on the bench. The XV de France - which has not won in Cardiff since 2010, the year of the last French Grand Slam - has won only one of its last nine confrontations with Wales.
Probable composition of the XV of France:
Bouthier - Thomas, Vakatawa, Vincent, Fickou - (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont - Ollivon (cap), Alldritt, Cros - Willemse, Le Roux - Haouas, Marchand, Baille
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