Fabien Galthié did a first sorting. This Wednesday, as required by the agreement between the FFR and the LNR, around twenty players were released by the coach of the French XV for this weekend without an international match and are returning to their respective clubs in preparation for the 15th day of Top 14. The other 23 will remain in Marcoussis and continue to prepare for the first match of the Six Nations Tournament against Wales on January 31.
First lesson from this small group: Fabien Galthié is indeed counting on Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou. The two young players, who are still awaiting the examination of the appeal filed by the complainant following the abandonment of the Argentine courts' proceedings against them for aggravated rape, are kept in the group of 23 players and will continue to play. train in Marcoussis. Their presence in the group against the Welsh is becoming clearer.
This Wednesday, co-coach of the forwards Laurent Sempéré spoke about their place in the group, believing that they had been “on point” during their return to their clubs. “We could expect, with the emotional burden of what they experienced, that they would not be able to maintain this level over time. They did, he said. They perform very well with their club every weekend, both in different registers. This is why they are on the list today. »
The rest of the cast includes all or almost all the executives: Grégory Alldritt, Julien Marchand, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Damian Penaud and Thomas Ramos will also remain in Marcoussis to prepare for this Six Nations Tournament.
On the other hand, according to information from L'Equipe, second row Thibaud Flament, who has been in sparkling form in recent weeks, is out of the first match against the Welsh due to a muscle injury.
Among the players left at the disposal of their clubs, let us cite the two players from the hinge of Bordeaux-Bègles Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert, Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse), Romain Taofifenua, who will be able to play with Racing 92, and Léo Barré, who will be able to wear the Stade Français jersey.
The list of 23 players retained:
Pillars : Uini Atonio (Stade Rochelais), Cyril Baille (Toulouse Stadium), Georges-Henri Colombe (Stade Rochelais), Jean-Baptiste Gros (RC Toulon).
Hookers : Julien Marchand (Toulouse Stadium), Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse Stadium)
-Second line : Hugo Auradou (Paloise Section), Joshua Brennan (Toulouse Stadium), Mickaël Guillard (Lyon) Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse Stadium).
Third line : Grégory Alldritt (Stade Rochelais), Paul Boudehent (Stade Rochelais), François Cros (Stade Toulouse), Oscar Jegou (Stade Rochelais).
Scrumhalves : Antoine Dupont (Toulouse Stadium), Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92).
Flying half : Romain Ntamack (Toulouse Stadium).
Three-quarter center : Pierre-Louis Barassi (Toulouse Stadium), Émilien Gailleton (Section Paloise), Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux-Bègles).
Wingers : Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Bègles), Damian Penaud (Bordeaux-Bègles).
Rears : Thomas Ramos (Toulouse stadium)
