Two novices, Castres hooker Gaëtan Barlot and Perpignan back Melvyn Jaminet, who played in Pro D2 this season, are starting the first match of the XV de France tour in Australia on Wednesday, coach Fabien Galthié announced on Saturday. .
Jaminet was preferred to Montpellier Anthony Bouthier, holder of the post in 2020 since dislodged by Brice Dulin.
The staff of the Blues is forced to align a reduced XV of France, because deprived of many executive players for this series of three games against the Wallabies.
Five other neophytes appear on the bench according to the composition unveiled by Galthié during the general assembly of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), in duplex from Australia.
They are Racing 92 scrum half Teddy Iribaren, Toulon hooker Anthony Etrillard, Castres second row Florent Vanverberghe, Sipili Falatea (Clermont) and Quentin Walcker (Perpignan / Pro D2) pillars.
The team's average age is 24 and has an average of 6 caps, said the coach.
The players have everything to gain.
It is the opportunity for many to assert themselves, to reveal themselves, and to take a place in the wagon of the XV of France two and a half years before the World Cup.
- Fabien Galthié (@FGalthie) July 3, 2021
The third row of Castres Anthony Jelonch will be captain for the first time for this meeting.
The usual captain, the Toulonnais Charles Ollivon, is injured in a knee and unavailable for long months.
The hinge will be made up of Lyon scrum half Baptiste Couilloud and Toulon opener Louis Carbonel.
The winger Teddy Thomas, usually holder, is not selected in the twenty-three.
The wings are occupied by its competitors Gabin Villière (Toulon) and Damian Penaud (Clermont).
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The most capped player is Toulon second row Romain Taofifenua (30), with 25 capes. The right pillar Demba Bamba, number 2 in the hierarchy behind Mohamed Haouas (arranged for the tour), is making his return among the holders. Several times injured this season, he has not worn the blue jersey since November 22 and a victory in Scotland (22-15) on the occasion of the Autumn Nations Cup. Fabien Galthié's men must play three games against the Wallabies, July 7 and 17 in Brisbane, July 13 in Melbourne.
The XV of France left on tour in Australia with a group of 42 players, reduced to 41 after the affair of the forgotten passport of Alexandre Fischer.
This group is truncated by many executives, left to rest (Jalibert, Vakatawa ...) or injured (Ollivon, Fickou ...), as well as Toulouse (Ntamack, Dupont, Ramos, Cros, Baille, Marchand ...) and Rochelais (Alldritt, Dulin, Bourgarit ...), finalists of the Top 14.
Starting XV:
Jaminet - Penaud, Vincent, Danty, Villière - (o) Carbonel, (m) Couilloud - Jelonch (cap.), Macalou, Cretin - R. Taofifenua, Geraci - Bamba, Barlot, Gros.
Alternates:
Etrillard, Walcker, Falatea, Vanverberghe, Pesenti, Woki, Iribaren, Bouthier
