The last Autumn Nations Cup, finished in second place at the end of extra time against England, showed the depth of French rugby's reservoir.
Deprived of their usual holders who had played their three game sheets according to the agreement signed between the FFR and the LNR, Fabien Galthié and his staff had to deal with "reservists" who, far from being impressed, had competed with the XV de la Rose vice-world champion.
To launch his second Six Nations Tournament Saturday in Rome (3:15 p.m.), the coach of the Blues must face three notable absences.
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Three injury packages: opener Romain Ntamack (jaw), center Virimi Vakatawa (knee) and flanker François Cros (foot) will be missing.
To replace them, are therefore respectively launched at the Olympic Stadium the Bordelais Matthieu Jalibert, usual opening half number 2, the Montpellier Arthur Vincent, regularly requested for a year, and the Lyonnais Dylan Cretin, who had replaced Cros after his injury in Ireland. and had started against Scotland at the end of the year.
“Dylan has been a regular member of the team since the start of the adventure.
It is the best who play ”, explains the coach referring to the competition with Woki and Jelonch.
"Gabien Villière came to get his jersey, he put on a string of good club performances"
Fabien Galthie
Among the players who have shaken up the hierarchy during the Autumn Nations Cup, we find the back of La Rochelle, Brice Dulin, in full revival after three years of absence in Blue.
The one who was elected best player of the unprecedented fall competition was preferred to number 15 of the MHR, Anthony Bouthier, unexpected revelation of the 2020 Tournament but in difficulty since.
On one of the wings, the neo-Toulonnais Gabin Villière managed to get a starting place.
"He came to get his jersey, he put on a series of good club performances," said Galthié.
The former brilliant player of the France team at 7 was preferred to the returning Damian Penaud, who played only one international match last year (during the defeat in Scotland) due to an injury at the ankle.
Teddy Thomas' defense hailed
On the other wing of the XV de France, Racingman Teddy Thomas will start in Rome.
"Teddy was very efficient, he brings his qualities of speed and scorer, he is also able to defend well, justifies Fabien Galthié who takes the opposite view of the critics on his defensive deficiencies."
He added: “Damian is back, he only played one game with us.
There is great competition. ”
Other movements, this time on the substitutes' bench (the famous “finishers” as the staff call them), with the arrival of Rochelais hooker Pierre Bourgarit, who takes advantage of the absence on injury (calf) of Racingman Camille Chat.
Third row Anthony Jelonch (Castres), to his advantage at the end of the year, also clinched a place in the 23.
Composition of the XV of France against Italy:
Dulin - Villière, Vincent, Fickou, Thomas - (o) Jalibert, (m) Dupont - Ollivon (cap.), Alldritt, Cretin - Willemse, Le Roux - Haouas, Marchand, Baille
Alternates: Bourgarit, Gros, Aldegheri, R. Taofifenua, Jelonch, Serin, Carbonel, Penaud
Discover the first composition of #XVdeFrance in 2021!
The Blues of @FGalthie & @ibanez_raphael face Italy (@Federugby) in the opening of @SixNationsRugby!
See you on Saturday at 3.15pm on @ France2tv! # NeFaisonsXVpic.twitter.com / tPEv6BpEhD
- France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 4, 2021
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