A breath of fresh air for Les Bleus. For the first of their three matches on the November tour, against Japan (9:10pm) at the Stade de France,n Fabien Galthié unveiled his first team line-up on Thursday. With a few new features. The first of these concerns the XV de France’s center pairing. Gone is the Jonathan Danty (La Rochelle)-Gaël Fickou (Racing 92), and the more yellow duo of Yoram Moefana (UBB) and Émilien Gailleton (Pau). A strong choice by the Bleus staff: Danty was left out at the start of the gathering due to a sporting decision, while Fickou, who is losing momentum with his club, has been called into question. The former defense captain appointed by the Englishman Shaun Edwards had never started on the bench since Galthié took over after the 2019 World Cup in Japan, and had made 48 straight starts since February 1, 2019 (when he was selected).

Another iconic player falls down the pecking order: Charles Ollivon. The RC Toulon third-rower, captain when Galthié took over and the forward who scored the most tries in the history of the XV de France (16) – ahead of Olivier Magne (14 tries) and Imanol Harinordoquy (13) – is now ranked in favour ofAlexandre Roumat (Toulouse), who has become a fixture with the reigning French and European champions. Charles Ollivon isn’t even a substitute, Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle) will start on the substitutes’ bench. No more immunity totems for “premium” players. “We’re working with a group of 42 and we don’t necessarily take anything else into account. We look at the form of the moment, what the player can give us, what’s best for the team. That’s what prevails among the staff, but also among the players”.explained Laurent Sempéré, the assistant coach in charge of the French forwards.

Another player will be making his international debut on Saturday against the Japanese: Tevita Tatafu. Of Tongan origin, the Aviron Bayonnais right-back – long followed by the French staff – has recently been eligible for selection for France and is taking advantage of the physical problems suffered by the indomitable Uini Atonio (La Rochelle) to be launched on the international scene. He has “great physical qualities and power. He’s capable of moving the ball, not just playing in the middle, explains Sempéré. We work a lot on his physical condition so that he can develop the tasks”.

Dupont back as strong, if not better

François Cros

Otherwise, attention will be focused on the return ofAntoine Dupontwho hasn’t played for the French national team since last World Cup quarter-final against the Springbokstaking a break to fulfill his dream of becoming Olympic 7-a-side champion.He cut back, but he’s back just as strong, if not better. It’s obviously a pleasure to have him back for us at the club”.says his Toulouse team-mate, third-row François Cros. Dupont will be joined at the hinge by Thomas Ramoswho finished the last Six Nations Tournament as number 10 following Matthieu Jalibert’s injury. Once again, Jalibert will have to make do with a substitute berth.

For the rest, Galthié and his deputies have maintained their confidence in the pack, with Peato Mauvaka – still excellent in Blue – at hooker with Julien Marchand on the bench, while Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou will once again be partnered in the second row. At left-back, Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon) has been preferred to Reda Wardi (La Rochelle). Behind, the back three remains unchanged, with Léo Barré (Stade Français) at the back and the inevitable Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey on the wings. But things aren’t quite set in stone ahead of the second match, the clash with the All Blacks. “There are some players who won’t play in the first match and who may return the week after or the week after that”.said Laurent Sempéré.

The composition of the XV de France :

Barré – Penaud, Gailleton, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey – (o) Ramos, (m) Dupont (cap.) – Roumat, Alldritt, Cros – Meafou, Flament – Tatafu, Mauvaka, Gros.

Substitutes : Marchand, Wardi, Colombe, Guillard, Boudehent, Lucu, Jalibert, Fickou.