Damian Penaud will have to wait to play his first game of the 2020 Six Nations Tournament. The Clermont winger, injured in the left calf before the first day against England three weeks ago, did not participate in training at high intensity this Tuesday, February 18 at Marcoussis (Essonne), four days before the trip to Wales, Saturday (5:45 pm). He should be forfeited to Cardiff.
During the session, it was the Parisian center Gaël Fickou which slipped to the left wing, giving way to Montpellier's Arthur Vincent. Virimi Vakatawa, the racing center, who is also recovering from an injury, was present on the pitch. His teammate at Ciel et Blanc, hooker Camille Chat too. He should sit on the substitutes' bench during this pivotal meeting for the Blues. Coach Fabien Galthié will communicate the composition of the team this Thursday.
Time for revenge against the Welsh?
Is his young troop cut out for the Grand Slam? That's the question. After two successes against the English (24-17) and the Italians (35-22) at the Stade de France, the Habs make their first trip to the competition. If they manage to take their revenge on the Welsh who had their hair in the quarterfinal of the World Cup in Japan on October 20 (20-19), the road will appear clear then with a trip to Scotland, on March 8 , then the reception from Ireland on March 14.
"I've been thinking about it for the past few months, but I don't think about it any more," says the second line of Racing Bernard Le Roux, present during the last duel narrowly lost to the Welsh. It's pretty positive. It's life, it's behind us. We really want to do something new. We work very hard for that. I hope it will pay off. "
The likely team: Bouthier - Thomas, Vakatawa, Vincent, Fickou - (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont - Ollivon (cap.), Alldritt, Cros - Willemse, Le Roux - Haouas, Marchand, Baille.