Atonio and Cros should make their return against the Pumas, to the detriment of Alldritt, who should find himself in the stands. Right pillar Uini Atonio and third row François Cros should return to the French XV to face Argentina this Friday, November 22 (9:10 p.m.), while Grégory Alldritt should be absent from the group which will be announced this Wednesday .
Forfeited for the first two matches against Japan (52-12) and New Zealand (30-29) after a calf injury, Atonio (34 years old, 62 caps), trained normally on Tuesday, and should be fit to wedge the right side of the scrum against the Pumas. The return of the experienced La Rochelle pillar is good news for the blue pack, which left feathers against the Blacks. The young Tevita Tatafu (22), starter in the first two autumn test matches, is out after taking a blow to his knee.
Atonio will share the position with George-Henri Colombe, who should return to the bench: the La Rochelle pillar had to play 70 minutes of play against New Zealand after Tatafu's injury, when he was ill a few days before. The rest of the front five should not experience any other changes: the left pillar of Toulon Jean-Baptiste Gros, very prominent against Japan as against the Blacks will be renewed, as will the Toulouse Peato Mauvaka at the back and Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou in the second row.
Alldritt victim of competition
It is in the third row that changes will take place, where the competition is fiercest, dear to the emulation advocated by coach Fabien Galthié this fall. It's difficult to do without Paul Boudehent, excellent both on his return against Japan and from the start against the All Blacks, and who trained among the probable starters on Tuesday. He would be accompanied by the tireless François Cros, back after a concussion, and Charles Ollivon. The first captain of the Galthié mandate, who had been dismissed against Japan, made a good comeback against the New Zealanders, and recovers the number eight from another executive, Grégory Alldritt, who had assumed the responsibility of captaincy in absence of Antoine Dupont.
Released after only 48 minutes of play against the triple world champions New Zealand on Saturday, the Rochelais, despite his defeat in defense and in the rucks, seemed to be behind with the ball in hand. Alldritt, who did not train with a starting shirt, should even find himself out of the group pushed out of the 23 by the versatile Alexandre Roumat and Mickaël Guillard, who should take place on the bench, and by the neophyte and champion of the world U20 Marko Gazzoti, who could honor his first cap. The hinge, made up of captain Antoine Dupont and the versatile Thomas Ramos, should not move, especially since UBB opener Matthieu Jalibert, left from the group against the New Zealanders, has not been recalled.
Gaël Fickou, substitute against Japan, assumed his status as boss on Saturday, and should be renewed, with Yoram Moefana at his side. On the wings, the absences of Damian Penaud (ill) and Théo Attissogbe (knee) leave room for Gabin Villière, while Louis Bielle-Biarrey, again author of a try on Saturday at the Stade de France, his 9th in 13 selections, will be logically present. Finally at the back, Romain Buros did not disappoint for his baptism of fire against the New Zealanders, and should have a second cap in a row, after several years of waiting for the first.
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The probable composition of the French XV against Argentina
Buros – Villière, Fickou, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey – (o) Ramos, (m) Dupont (cap.) – Cros, Ollivon, Boudehent – Meafou, Flament – Atonio, Mauvaka, Gros. Remplaçants: Marchand, Wardi, Colombe, Guillard, Roumat, Gazzotti, Le Garrec, Gailleton. Selector : Fabien Galthié.
