To understand the originality of this list, we must already measure the weight, and the why, of the absences. The XV of France flying this Monday to Australia, where he will play three tests against the Wallabies (July 7 in Sydney, 13 in Melbourne and 17 in Brisbane), for a matter of timing, but also of fatigue , the French staff had wisely decided to do without the Top 14 finalists (who will face each other on Friday night at the Stade de France). Exit therefore the Toulouse (Dupont, Ntamack, Lebel, Cros, Baille, Marchand…) and the Rochelais (Alldritt, Dulin, Bourgarit…).
Then there are the many Blues who populate the infirmaries: Captain Charles Ollivon, Camille Chat, Baptiste Serin, Swan Rebbdaj and we forget some. Finally, there are those who need to recover, to regain their strength. This is how Racingmen Bernard Le Roux and Virimi Vakatawa, Bordeaux opener Matthieu Jalibert, Montpellierers Paul Willemse and Momo Haouas were exempted. For a titular XV, and a little more, which will remain in France.
It was necessary, therefore, to find, find valid troops.
Galthié and his assistants did not hesitate to line up a group of 42 players with 4 selections on average (!) And 16 of them are 23 years old or less.
Of course, there are surprises.
We thus notice at the outset the presence of two Pro D2 players, who will discover the Top 14 next season with the promotion of Usap, left pillar Quentin Walcker and back Melvyn Jaminet ...
The analysis of the list of the XV of France to find in full here