For his reunion with his supporters after a year and a half of estrangement linked to health restrictions, the XV of France will present itself with some innovations.
Fabien Galthié and Raphaël Ibañez presented Thursday noon the first team composition of this autumn tour of the Blues, which begins with the reception of Argentina on Saturday (9 p.m.) at the Stade de France.
A match against the Pumas which will allow the staff to try some experiments within two years of the kickoff of the World Cup in France.
Explanations.
Jalibert-Ntamack, "the opportunity presents itself"
“Let's try to put the best players on the field. "The small sentence of the coach of the XV of France, slipped in the middle of his argument of this choice, summarizes the line of conduct of the management of the Blues on the Jalibert-Ntamack file. The two openers, sparkling since the start of the club season, will be associated from the start with the Bordeaux player responsible for guiding the game in number 10 and his Toulouse counterpart shifted to the center, a position he sometimes frequents in club.
"These two players have been among the best players in our championship for two years," says Galthié.
There was also the injury of Arthur Vincent and the withdrawal of Virimi Vakatawa (Editor's note: two of the usual center-quarterbacks), and we, as Laurent Labit said (Editor's note: the back coach of the Blues) , we thought for a while to associate them.
There, the opportunity arises.
"
A possible long-standing collaboration with the two players, ensures the staff of the Blues.
But who says experimentation, also says plan B if the sauce does not take.
The Blues will have on the sidelines a pure center, Jonathan Danty, and on the ground a winger, Damian Penaud, able to evolve in this position as he has shown with Clermont since the start of the season.
"
Melvyn Jaminet, the Australian revelation
He is THE big winner of the summer tour of the Blues to the Antipodes.
Rookie internationally, the 22-year-old had never played in the Top 14 when he boarded the plane for Australia.
But the back of the promoted Perpignan has chained three tenures against the Wallabies and seduced Fabien Galthié.
Here is Melvyn Jaminet new incumbent, after Anthony Bouthier and Brice Dulin.
Against Argentina, he will also have the task of stumbling, which says a lot about the credit he has with the coaches.
“Melvyn jumped at the chance in Australia with these three tests where he was very competitive,” describes Fabien Galthié.
He brought his talent and profile to this group.
The management of the Blues has also entrusted him with the responsibility of looking for good sideline positions on penalties.
Good kicking session today at Perpignan with Melvyn Jaminet, just keep working hard towards the goal, @ FranceRugb.
pic.twitter.com/I7S3sVW6Gt
- Vlok Cilliers (@ Vlokskop10) October 13, 2021
Thibaud Flament "came to get his jersey"
“He started in Waterloo, which we know well as French people,” smiles Fabien Galthié.
Initiated to rugby in Belgium, then passed through Argentina and British university sport before being spotted by the London club of Wasps then signing at the Toulouse Stadium in 2020, Thibaud Flament is a UFO.
A term validated by his coach, seduced by the second row of 24 years, called for the first time in Marcoussis this fall.
The performance of the young man sent Bernard Le Roux, usual holder, home and left Romain Taofifenua on the bench.
“He came to get his jersey, as they say, slips Fabien Galthié.
It goes fast, with an atypical course.
He imposed his talent, by his presence in training.
"On Saturday, he will experience his international baptism of fire against a country he knows well, associated with the" tractor "Paul Willemse in the second row.
“He has always been inhabited by this flame, continues his coach, referring to this poster of the XV of France hanging in his child's room.
It encourages young enthusiasts who are not retained in training centers to believe in themselves.
"
Grégory Alldritt, the vice-captain relegated to the bench
It seemed to have become essential to kick off this XV of France. But Grégory Alldritt, yet tipped to take the armband during this tour, will start well on the sidelines against the Pumas. The fault of less sharp individual performances, in the tradition of the delicate start of the season of La Rochelle, and the rise in power of an Anthony Jelonch, captain in Australia and inescapable with Toulouse since September and who will start at the position of third center line .
"He is still on the scoresheet, he is part of the finisher team," insists Fabien Galthié, who made his troops work on the delicate management of the end of games, which weighed down the Blues on several occasions in 2021 "He will keep this place within our group, it remains a key element of our system", continues Raphaël Ibañez.
His entry on Saturday will be particularly watched, he who was irremovable since the 2019 World Cup.
