But for the first time, he will start a meeting while all his competitors are available and on deck. Until now, he had played in Scotland, in a preparation match for the World Cup at the beginning of August 2023, without being selected for the competition afterwards. Then he was on the tour in Argentina last summer, where he played the two summer tests as a starter, with good performances to boot.
For this meeting against the Japanese, he notably pushed the experienced Gaël Fickou onto the bench. A first for the 30-year-old center, the most capped in activity with 90 selections, since 2019 and under the mandate of Fabien Galthié.
The editorial team advises you
Top 14 – Paloise Section: “We will have to have an exceptional end to the season”, recognizes Sébastien Piqueronies
Aware that the objectives of top 8 or even top 6 announced at the start of the season will be difficult to maintain after a first block of 9 matches largely in deficit (3 victories – 6 defeats) at the end of which the Section Paloise finds itself in an uncomfortable 12th place , manager Sébastien Piqueronies looks back on this missed first third of the championship. Gross balance sheet, difficulties in the game, especially in front, injuries, the 46-year-old Cantalou answers the questions, while inviting us to look further. According to him, despite a difficult present, Pau is sowing seeds for the future.
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Essential in Pau
They visibly convinced Fabien Galthié and his staff, who had chosen to keep him in the 23 last weekend, while 19 players were released to play for a club. Indispensable at the Section Paloise (57 matches played in two and a half years, 7 out of 8 this season), where he even played the role of captain against Toulouse in October, Emilien Gailleton continues his linear progression.
Another player from the Paloise Section called from the list of 42 to prepare for this first of the three autumn tests of the French XV (against New Zealand on November 16 then Argentina on the 22nd), winger Théo Attissogbe was released. He could be called up again this weekend before the All Blacks come to Paris next week.
The line-up of the XV of France (match at 9:10 p.m. Saturday at the Stade de France and on TF1)
Barré – Penaud, Gailleton, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey – (o) Ramos, (m) Dupont (cap) – Roumat, Aldritt, Cros – Meafou, Flament – Tatafu, Mauvaka, Gros
Substitutes: Machand, Wardi, Colombe, Guillard, Boudehent, Lucu, Jalibert, Fickou
