You (almost) don't change a losing team.
Swept last Friday at the Vélodrome against Ireland (17-38), the French XV is looking for redemption this Saturday (3:15 p.m.) in Scotland, on the occasion of the second day of the Six Nations Tournament.
For this match at Murrayfield, Fabien Galthié and his staff maintained their confidence in almost the entire team which foundered in Marseille, making only two changes with the returns of second row Cameron Woki (Racing 92) and winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Bègles), who started at the last World Cup.
“We made a mistake, we missed out against Ireland,”
admitted William Servat, the coach of the French forwards.
But the freshness of
this new staff
and some new players, added to the ambition and character of the former players, will be enough to prepare everyone for the match to come.
To discover
Ranking Tournament 6 of Nations
Calendar and results 6 Nations
The return of Woki is explained by the absence of Paul Willemse (Montpellier), suspended four weeks for having received a red card against the XV du Trèfle.
The French staff also had to deal with the injury absences of Toulouse's Thibaud Flament (foot) and Emmanuel Meafou (knee) as well as Lyon's Romain Taofifenua (leg).
The touchline is one of the areas that suffered the most against the Irish with four misplaced throws.
Cameron Woki (25, 27 caps) will allow the French lineup to have an additional jumper, in addition to Charles Ollivon (Toulon).
“Little Tao”, more than 5 years later
By choosing to favor
“the intensity fought rather than the intensity run (sic)”
, Fabien Galthié had decided to field Yoram Moefana at the Vélodrome.
For this second match, he changed his tune by once again starting his teammate at UBB, Louis Bielle-Biarrey (20 years old, 8 selections), who had been the revelation of the last World Cup by making a place for himself in the starting XV.
The Gironde club remains the club which provides the most players to the Blues' back line, with scrum-half Maxime Lucu (under fire after his failed match against XV du Trèfle), fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and The other winger, Damian Penaud, who is only two tries away from equaling Serge Blanco's try record in blue (36 against 38).
On the substitutes' bench, there is also a little movement.
After the wrist injury to Reda Wardi (La Rochelle), Sébastien Taofifenua (Lyon) makes his return to blue.
Called up to finish preparation for the World Cup to replace Cyril Baille, “Petit Tao”, younger brother of Romain Taofifenua, had not made the cut to be in the final group.
Having passed through Bordeaux-Bègles, Perpignan and Toulon, the left pillar of LOU (31 years old, 2 caps) has not played for the French team since the 2018 season and two caps, coming off the bench, against South Africa (defeat 17-18) and Japan (23-23), during the November test matches.
First for Roumat?
The other new feature concerns third-row Alexandre Roumat (Toulouse, 26 years old).
Summoned several times to the CNR in Marcoussis without having been selected, the son of former international Olivier Roumat could honor his first international cap at Murrayfield.
The young Posolo Tuilagi (Perpignan, 19 years old), recent impressive U20 world champion, should honor his second selection in Edinburgh.
After losing their last two meetings against the two best nations in the world (South Africa then Ireland), the Blues have no room for error in the crazy atmosphere of Murrayfield.
Scotland has long been Fabien Galthié's bête noire (three defeats in seven confrontations), including two setbacks in the last four trips to Murrayfield.
“Morale and ego are affected,”
admitted La Rochelle third row Paul Boudehent.
However, we are not discouraged, we are all challengers, it's our job, we like it.
This weekend in Scotland is a new challenge.”
The composition of France:
Ramos – Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Bielle-Biarrey – (o) Jalibert, (m) Lucu – Ollivon, Alldritt (cap), Cros – Gabrillagues, Woki – Atonio, Mauvaka, Baille.
Substitutes:
Marchand, S. Taofifenua, Aldegheri, Tuilagi, Roumat, Boudehent, Le Garrec, Moefana.