The novelty was expected.
Jonathan Danty package and Yoram Moefana replaced in the center, Gabin Villière very uncertain, there was a place to take on the wing of the XV of France.
It was thought to devolve on the Toulousain Matthis Lebel but, for two weeks, it was Ethan Dumortier who wore the starter's pinafore during high-intensity sessions in Capbreton.
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Calendar and results 6 Nations
Ranking Tournament 6 of Nations
The package of the Toulonnais Villière recorded, it is therefore logical that the winger of the LOU will honor his first selection Sunday (4 p.m.) in Rome against Italy.
A logical selection given the start of the season for the Lyonnais: 8 tries scored in twelve Top 14 matches and three more in the Champions Cup.
At only 22 years old, the Lyonnais falls into the category of those UFOs dear to Fabien Galthié with his impressive size (1.91 m for 93 kg) and his linear progression in recent months.
A second player should also make his debut in the blue jersey: the young scrum half of Racing 92, Nolann Le Garrec.
His presence on the bench is a little surprise because, in the absence of Maxime Lucu, the official understudy of Antoine Dupont, it was thought that Baptiste Couilloud, number 3 in the hierarchy of scrum-half and also strong from his 11 selections, would pull himself up on the bench.
But the young (20 years old) and very promising Breton grilled his politeness.
Dumortier and Le Garrec will be the 45th and 46th neo-capped by Fabien Galthié and his staff since their arrival at the head of the Blues in January 2020. For a round account of 80 players selected at least once.
Ramos preferred to Jaminet at the back
The last question concerned the rear position where two Toulouse players, Melvyn Jaminet and Thomas Ramos, are in competition.
The second named took advantage of his teammate's package in November to show that he was better than a double.
He obviously convinced the staff to keep him in number 15 despite the return of the one who had chained the tenures until the Grand Slam 2022.
For the rest, no surprise.
In the absence of Cameron Woki, injured in the scaphoid and forfeited for the whole Tournament, it is the Toulousain Thibaud Flament, to his advantage during the recent tour in November (to compensate, this time, for the absence of Paul Willemse) , who will start in the second row.
Alongside the colossus of Montpellier, back from injury.
However, it will only be the second time that Willemse and Flament have joined the cage (victory against Argentina, 29-20, in November 2021).
At the position of hooker, in the absence, through injury, of Peato Mauvaka who forms a pair with his Toulouse teammate Julien Marchand, and of Pierre Bourgarit, it is the Castrais Gaëtan Barlot who has been chosen to take his place on the bench.
His first during the Six Nations Tournament, honored him with his four selections during the June tours abroad (Australia 2021 and Japan 2022).
Composition of the XV of France against Italy
: Ramos - Penaud, Fickou, Moefana, Dumortier - (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont (cap.) - Alldritt, Ollivon, Jelonch - Willemse, Flament - Atonio, Marchand, Baille.
Replacements
: Barlot, Wardi, Falatea, R. Taofifenua, Lavault, Macalou, Le Garrec, Jalibert.