return of Dupont, Roumat rather than Ollivon, Moefana-Gailleton in the center… Galthié unveils his team to face Japan

For the first of their three autumn test matches, the Blues face the Japanese on Saturday (9:10 p.m.) at the Stade de France.

A breath of fresh air for the Blues. For the first of three matches of the November tour, Saturday against Japan (9:10 p.m.) at the Stade de France, Fabien Galthié revealed his first team composition this Thursday. With some new features. The first of these concerns the pair of centers of the XV of France. Gone is the Jonathan Danty (La Rochelle)-Gaël Fickou (Racing 92) team, making way for the more yellow duo, formed by Yoram Moefana (UBB) and Émilien Gailleton (Pau). A strong choice from the Blues staff: Danty was dismissed from the start of the meeting due to a sporting choice, Fickou, losing momentum with his club, is 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 he remained on 48 starts in a row since February 1, 2019 ( when it was selected).

Another emblematic player who falls in the hierarchy of his position: Charles Ollivon. The third row of RC Toulon, captain when Galthié took office and forward having scored the most tries in the history of the French XV (16) – ahead of Olivier Magne (14 tries) and Imanol Harinordoquy (13 ) – sees himself classified in favor of Alexandre Roumat (Toulouse), who has become essential among the reigning French and European champions. Charles Ollivon is not even a substitute, Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle) will start on the substitutes' bench. So no more immunity totem for so-called “premium” players. “We are working with a group of 42 and we are not necessarily taking anything else into account. We look at the current form, what the player can give us, what is best for the team. This is what predominates in the staff, but also among the players”justified Laurent Sempéré, the assistant coach in charge of the French forwards.

Another player will make his international debut on Saturday against the Japanese: Tevita Tatafu. Of Tongan origin, the right pillar of Aviron Bayonnais – followed for a long time by the French staff – has recently been selectable for France and takes advantage of the physical problems of the indestructible Uini Atonio (La Rochelle) to be launched on the scene international. He has “great physical qualities and power. He is able to move the ball, not just play through the middle, explains Sempéré. We work a lot on his physical condition so that he can develop the tasks.”

Dupont came back just as strong, if not better

François Cros

Otherwise, attention will be focused on the return of Antoine Dupont, who has not played with the French XV since the quarter-final of the last World Cup against the Springboks, taking a break to fulfill his dream of becoming Olympic champion at 7. “He cut, but he came back just as strong, if not better. It’s obviously a pleasure to have him back for us already in the club.”greets his teammate in Toulouse, the third row François Cros. Dupont will be associated at the hinge with Thomas Ramos, usual full-back who finished the last Six Nations Tournament in number 10 after the injury to Matthieu Jalibert. The latter will, once again, have to make do with a replacement folding seat.

For the rest, Galthié and his deputies maintained their confidence in the pack in Peato Mauvaka – always excellent in Blue – at the back with Julien Marchand on the bench, Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou will still be associated in the second line. At the position of left pillar, Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon) was preferred to Reda Wardi (La Rochelle). Behind, the rear triangle is unchanged with Léo Barré (Stade Français) at the back and the inevitable Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey on the wings. But things are not completely set in stone before the second match, the clash against the All Blacks. “There are players who will not play the first match and who will perhaps return the following week or even the week after that”confided Laurent Sempéré.