The feat achieved against Wales has left its mark but the XV of France should be able to benefit from the reinforcement of second-row Bernard Le Roux on Friday against Scotland, the decisive match for the title in the Six Nations Tournament.
Coach Fabien Galthié, forced to make changes to his list of twenty-three players to be unveiled on Wednesday (12:30 p.m.), will have to do without Paul Willemse, sent off against the Welsh.
Uncertainty hung over the presence of Romain Taofifenua, hit in a knee and replaced in the middle of the first period against the XV du Leek by Swan Rebbadj, but he participated in high intensity training in Marcoussis on Tuesday.
His last assessment was "very reassuring", explained Thibault Giroud, the performance manager of the XV of France.
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His partner in "the cage", Paul Willemse, received a red card in the last quarter of an hour for a clearing at the level of the neck and a hand in the face of the Welsh left pillar Wyn Jones.
He should be replaced by Bernard Le Roux.
The Racing 92 player (31, 46 caps) missed the duel against Wales and, before that, the trip to England (23-20 loss) due to a muscle glitch in one thigh.
But he was called back to the group to prepare for the final match against the XV du Chardon.
To avoid any eventuality, the French management had recalled in reinforcement the second-line from Pau Baptiste Pesenti.
Le Roux and Taofifenua participated in the training which took place this Tuesday in the early evening in Marcoussis.
Unless the staff decides to establish Swan Rebbadj, author of a very noticeable entry against the XV du Leek and which related to certain sequences a chasuble of holder, on the images of the training provided by the FFR.
Favorite Jelonch over Cretin?
At the opening, all lights are green for a tenure of Romain Ntamack who replaced at the Stade de France Matthieu Jalibert (concussion protocol), after 30 minutes of play. The number 10 of Bordeaux-Bègles is forfeited for Friday and has was replaced in the group by the Toulonnais Louis Carbonel.
This would be the first tenure of Ntamack since October 31 and the victory of the Blues against Ireland (35-27) on the last day of the 2020 Tournament. The Toulousain had to give up following the fall tour because of the thigh painful.
Then a double fracture of the jaw at the end of December had caused him to miss trips to Italy (50-10) and Ireland (15-13).
Other alterations are not impossible on a more sporting level.
Anthony Jelonch is applying for a starting place in the third row alongside captain Charles Ollivon and number 8 Grégory Alldritt.
Le Castrais took up the physical challenge on Saturday by playing the last half hour, relaying Dylan Cretin, author of a half-fig, half-grape performance.
Winger Teddy Thomas was also one of the least prominent French against the “Red Dragons”.
The center Arthur Vincent replaced him in the last twenty-five minutes, which had the consequence of shifting to the wing Fickou, determining in the construction of the test of the win.
After its reversal of the situation against Wales (32-30), leader in the standings, the XV of France must score at least four tries against Scotland and win by 21 points to win the title.
It would be the first since 2010.
Probable composition of the XV of France:
Dulin - Penaud, Vakatawa, Fickou, Thomas - (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont - Ollivon (cap.), Alldritt, Jelonch - Taofifenua (or Rebbadj), Le Roux - Haouas, Marchand, Yawning
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