Wednesday morning's training session in Marcoussis helped to remove some doubts surrounding the composition of the France team which will face Wales on January 31 at the Stade de France.
If Tuesday afternoon's training, carried out without twenty-five players likely to appear on the first match sheet of the 6 Nations Tournament, had left us somewhat unsatisfied, Wednesday's collective session on the other hand allowed to find out a little more about the composition of the France team which will begin the competition on January 31, against Wales.
If we are to believe the game of the chasubles which took place this morning on the main field of Marcoussis, the Bordelais Yoram Moefana should – in the absence of Gaël Fickou, in the name of a good start to the season and his excellent knowledge of the tricolor playing system (31 selections) – start against Wales with, on the back, the number 12. At his side, it could be above all that Pierre-Louis Barassi, whose last selection dates back to summer 2021 and a successful tour in Australia, be he also holder. On the subject of Toulouse, Fabien Galthié explained in the interview he gave us on Monday in Olympic Midday : “Pierre-Louis comes regularly with us to Marcoussis but since the 2019 World Cup, he has often been injured and subjected to tough competition at the Stade Toulouse. Which has left him little room to return to competition. Today, He plays well after matches. He's good, he's got great potential, he's a very good line player and he regulates well. He knows that.
Installed at the opening during the last autumn tour, Thomas Ramos should for his part resume his place at the back of the field and let Romain Ntamack, back to business after a long injury to his right calf, form the hinge tricolor with captain Antoine Dupont. Therefore, will “NTK” soon put an end to the debate which recently surrounded the position of fly-half in the French team? We'll know soon enough…
Bielle-Biarrey trained normally
Announced uncertain after suffering from dizziness last weekend, ahead of the UBB match against the Sharks (66-12), Louis Bielle-Biarrey did not train but is expected in Essonne in the hours to come. In the meantime, it was Toulonnais Gabin Villière who played the role of left winger.
-On the front line, Uini Atonio, recently handicapped by slight knee pain, will start well to the right of the French scrum and it is Jean-Baptiste Gros, excellent throughout the autumn, who will accompany him from other side of the tricolor building. Cyril Baille, who has just returned from a long absence (ruptured ankle ligaments and fractured fibula), is apparently still too short to be able to start an international match and could take his place on the sidelines.
In the absence of Charles Ollivon, whose season is over due to a knee injury that recently occurred in the Top 14, the cards are reshuffled in the third row, compared to the last tests of the fall: Wednesday, Paul Boudehent, François Cros and Gregory Alldritt therefore formed a rather “all-terrain” trio. Note, finally, that Manny Meafou, who suffers from a slight shoulder contusion, did not train with the starters and was replaced for this session by Racingman Romain Taofifenua. The Toulouse player's participation in the first match of the 6 Nations Tournament is not in doubt.
The probable composition of the Blues
15. Ramos; 14. Penaud, 13. Barassi, 12. Moefana, 11. Bielle-Biarrey ou Villière; 10. Ntamack, 9. Dupont (cap.) ; 7. Boudehent, 8. Alldritt, 6. Cros ; 5. Meafou ou R. Taofifenua, 4. Flament ; 3. Anthony, 2. Mauvaka, 1. Gros.
