During the Blues' second training this Wednesday, Fabien Galthié and his staff again used Moefana in the center, Roumat in the third line and Mauvaka at the heel.
In Marcoussis
A trend that is confirmed. Yoram Moefana, who returned to Marcoussis at the start of the week, trained again with a starting shirt, this Wednesday in Marcoussis during the training of the XV of France. Which should lead to the relegation to the bench of the experienced Gaël Fickou (a first since the 2019 Tournament and a home defeat against Wales 24-19) for the first of three matches of the November tour, Saturday against Japan. Moefana (24 years old, 28 caps) should be associated with Palois Émilien Gailleton (21 years old, 3 caps), who trained with the probable starters last week during the Blues' first training sessions.
The versatile three-quarter of the UBB – initially suspended three weeks after a dangerous tackle on Rochelais Jonathan Danty – is finally requalified for the first test against the Brave Blossoms after a one-week reduction in his sanction, after having participated in the dangerous tackling awareness workshop set up by World Rugby. Moefana is “a player who has good speed, who is capable of playing. He does not only bring us his power, explained Laurent Sempéré, the coach of the French forwards.
Fabien Galthié's other strong choice concerns the third row Alexandre Roumat, who should be preferred to another so-called “premium” player, the Toulonnais Charles Ollivon. “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.
Preferred over Bordelais Matthieu Jalibert, Toulouse's Thomas Ramos, usual full-back, trained again at the opening, associated with his club teammate Antoine Dupont, who is making his return with the Blues. On the front line, the experienced Uini Atonio is still too tight after being hit in the calf (he did not train this Wednesday), the young right pillar of Bayonne Tevita Tatafu (22 years old), of Tongan origin but finally eligible for France, should honor his first cape with the XV of France. At the heel, Peato Mauvaka should indeed be preferred to his teammate in Toulouse, Julien Marchand, if we rely on the game of the chasubles.
The probable starting XV against Japan:
Barré – Penaud, Gailleton, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey – (o) Ramos, (m) Dupont (cap) – Roumat, Alldritt, Cros – Meafou, Flament – Tatafu, Mauvaka, Gros.
France
