The countdown begins.
In eight months, the XV of France will launch “its” World Cup, at the Stade de France, against the All Blacks.
But before that, the Blues will have to defend their title (a Grand Slam moreover...) in the Six Nations Tournament with, odd year requires, a busier program offering trips to Ireland (February 11) and England (March 11).
If the bulk of the backbone of the France team is known, some newcomers could appear in Marcoussis.
With a card to play for the World Cup?
By force of circumstances, the tricolor staff will have to deal with certain absences due to injury.
Thus, the center three-quarters
Jonathan Danty
(La Rochelle) and
Arthur Vincent
(Montpellier), executives of the group, will not be there.
Just like another essential, the winger with the red helmet,
Gabin Villière
(Toulon).
Delbouis shines with Paris
A name is coming back with insistence to join the France group at the start of the year, that of the center
Julien Delbouis
(Stade Français), author of an excellent start to the season with the Parisian club, solid second in the Top 14. a year and a half due to two serious injuries, the player trained in Massy (23), U20 world champion in 2019, is this year a real detonator in attack and could have something to do with the absences of Danty and Vincent .
On the three-quarter side, winger
Ethan Dumortier
(Lyon) shines this season with LOU.
He leads the top scorers in the Top 14 with eight tries scored this season, confirming his full athletic potential (1.92m for 93kg).
Summoned in the fall without having honored his first selection, this other world champion under 20 should return to the France group.
Read alsoXV of France: five things to know about Ethan Dumortier, the promising winger from Lyon summoned in blue
Another young shoot in the championship has hatched this season: center or winger
Émilien Gailleton
(Pau).
The versatile captain of Les Bleuets has scored seven times this season (second behind Dumortier).
From there to cross the step which separates the Bleuets from the XV of France?
In any case, he has the perfect "UFO" profile that Galthié likes to summon.
Roumat has changed dimension
There is no shortage of talent in the Top 14. And young people have long teeth.
Like
Louis Bielle-Biarrey
(Bordeaux-Bègles).
The Girondin winger or fullback (only 19 years old) multiplies high-class outings with UBB, like his recent double against Montpellier or his brilliant inspiration (a 50/22 played quickly) this weekend against Bayonne, which led to Yoram Moefana's trial.
Gifted under high balls, with a nice burst of speed, the Bordelais amazes.
Among the forwards, William Servat and Karim Ghezal also have some promising players who can knock on the door of the Blues.
We think in particular of the third line
Alexandre Roumat
(Toulouse), who has shone since his arrival this season with the Rouge et Noir, from Bordeaux-Bègles.
Athletic, airy and solid, the son of former international Olivier Roumat has changed in dimension this season at Stade Toulousain and, with the withdrawal of Yoan Tanga (La Rochelle), a place is to be filled in the position of number 8, behind the irremovable
Grégory Alldritt
.
As a hooker,
Maxime Lamothe
(Bordeaux-Bègles) could have his chance, behind
Julien Marchand
and
Peato Mauvaka
(Toulouse), but ahead of
Pierre Bourgarit
(La Rochelle), if he injured his knee on Saturday against Toulouse, and
Gaëtan Barlot
(Castres), losing momentum.
Meafou is waiting for his passport
At the second line, the Blues should be able to count on their beam Paul Willemse, who returned to the field after suffering a hamstring muscle injury in November.
Two other fellows could, in addition, claim a place in the France team:
Rémi Picquette
(La Rochelle, 2 m for 117 kg) and
Emmanuel Meafou
(Toulouse, 2.03 m for 145 kg).
Two massive profiles, of movers, which the Blues lack a little (in the absence of Montpellier Florian Verhaeghe, injured in the shoulder), next to the more slender
Cameron Woki
and
Thibaud Flament
.
Read alsoTop 14: Meafou, a colossus in the Toulouse engine
Meafou, of Australian origin, has expressed his desire to play for France and, after three years of residence in France, he is now waiting for his passport to be eligible for Blue.
"I have no news, I'm waiting.
It is not in my hands, I let the prefecture decide”,
he explained at the end of October.
Will he have received his precious sesame in time to claim the Tournament or the World Cup?
File to follow.