Coach Fabien Galthié, who usually favors continuity, could this time change a third of his starting XV to take on New Zealand’s vice-world champions on Saturday evening.
The first high-intensity training session at Marcoussis on Tuesday was rich in lessons. While coach Fabien Galthié has traditionally made few changes to his teams from one match to the next, this time he is likely to make major changes to his starting XV compared with the one that took place on Saturday evening. dominated Japan (52-12) last Saturday at the Stade de France.
To face the New Zealand vice-world champions this Saturday, also in Saint-Denis, a third of the starting line-up will have to be replaced. Two are imposed by the packages. Damian Penaud, who is ill (with high fever) and has returned to Bordeaux to recover, and François Cors, who suffered a concussion against the Japanese, have been forced to withdraw.
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To replace the UBB winger, the Tricolor staff are likely to start Toulon’s Gabin Villière (29 years old in December, 16 caps), if the game of chasubles on Tuesday is anything to go by. This is a major comeback for the helmeted player, who hasn’t been selected since the World Cup match against Uruguay on September 14, 2023. He was preferred to Matthis Lebel from Toulouse.
To compensate for Cros’s absence, Paul Boudehent should be preferred to Charles Ollivon. A substitute against Japan on Saturday, the Rochelais player, who came on at half-time in place of Cros, impressed with two tries. Toulon’s Ollivon, out of the 23 last Saturday, is expected to join the substitutes’ bench.
Fickou back, a first for Buros
In addition to these two forced changes, Fabien Galthié and his assistants are expected to make a number of other replacements in the starting XV. In the back line, Gaël Fickou, who has been benched after 48 consecutive starts, is set to return to number 13 at the expense of young Palois Émilien Gailleton. Here too, experience is the key factor, with the 91-cap Racing man captaining the French defense.
At the back, Parisian Léo Barré, who had a lacklustre game against the Japanese, is set to lose his place after five starts in a row, to Bordeaux’s Romain Buros. The 27-year-old would be honoring his first cap against the All Blacks. We’ve seen less delicate beginnings…
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The experienced Uini Atonio (34, 62 caps), finally recovered from his calf strain, could take the place of young Tevita Tatafu, who won his first cap against the Brave Blossoms. However, on Tuesday, Atonio, along with Antoine Dupont (who is feverish and has been replaced in the starting line-up by Nolann Le Garrec) and Thibaud Flament, trained separately, with all three taking part in short, contact-free exercises in the end zone.
Uncertain after suffering a blow to the iliac crest last Saturday against the Brave Blossoms, the Toulouse second row underwent reassuring tests on Sunday, and should be able to take his place. In the meantime, Charles Ollivon played second row alongside Emmanuel Meafou.
The probable starting XV against New Zealand 15. Buros – 14. Villière, 13. Fickou, 12. Moefana, 11. Bielle-Biarrey – 10. Ramos, 9. Dupont (cap) – 8. Alldritt, 7. Roumat, 6. Boudehent – 5. Meafou, 4. Flament (or Ollivon) – 3. Atonio (or Tatafu), 2. Mauvaka, 1. Gros.