The first composition of the French XV since its World Cup has fallen.
More than three months after falling in the quarter-finals of their World Cup at home against South Africa, the Blues find themselves starting the Six Nations Tournament on Friday against Ireland in Marseille with a spine modified by several absences and choices by Fabien Galthié, who unveiled the list of players selected to face the XV du Trèfle on Wednesday late morning.
Faced with injuries to Thibaud and Flament and newcomer Emmanuel Meafou in the second row, the Blues coach chose to immediately launch Paul Willemse, who was out of the World Cup, and Stade Français player Paul Gabrillagues.
The Parisian had not appeared in the tricolor jersey since the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
On the front line, Peato Mauvaka will start at hooker.
This had already been the case against the Springboks, but this time the Toulouse player is preferred to his club partner, Julien Marchand, even though the latter is fit.
He will be supervised by Uini Atonio and Cyril Baille.
Bielle-Biarrey put on the bench for the benefit of Moefana
In the third row, the long-term absence of Anthony Jelonch, injured in the Top 14 with Toulouse, leads to the tenure of the Ollivon-Alldritt-Cros trio, with the Rochelais promoted to captain in the absence of Antoine Dupont, who will prepare the Olympic Games with the Blues of Sept. Without the French rugby star, it is his usual replacement Maxime Lucu who will form the hinge with his partner in Gironde Matthieu Jalibert.
🇫🇷⚡️☘️ 𝑹𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒛-𝒗𝒐𝒖𝒔 in Marseille!
🔥#XVdeFrance #NeFaisonsXV #FRAIRL pic.twitter.com/9nYG34lTGZ
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) January 31, 2024
The surprise, but foreseen in view of the last training sessions in Marcoussis, is the tenure of another Bordeaux player, that of Yoram Moefana.
The three-quarter center will be aligned on the wing, to the detriment of another Girondin, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, French revelation of the World Cup.
He will take his place on the sidelines, notably in the company of the two Racing 92 players, the second or third row Cameron Woki and the scrum half Nolann Le Garrec.
The composition of the Blues to face Ireland on Friday:
Ramos;
Penaud, Danty, Fickou, Moefana;
(o) Jalibert, (m) Lucu;
Ollivon, Alldritt, Cros;
Willemse, Gabrillagues;
Atonio, Mauvaka, Baille
Substitutes:
Marchand, Wardi, Aldegheri, Taofifenua, Woki, Boudehent, Le Garrec, Bielle-Biarrey.