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returns of Baille and Ntamack, Auradou and Jegou in ambush… The trends of Galthié's list for the VI Nations Tournament

Next week, Fabien Galthié and his staff will give the list of 42 players who will prepare for the first two matches of the Six Nations Tournament against Wales (Friday January 31, 9:15 p.m.) and England (Saturday February 8, 5:45 p.m.). After a successful fall tour, stability will take precedence, but some changes are expected, between injuries and returns. State of affairs.

For weeks now, the Blues staff have been looking at the next list of 42 for the first match of the VI Nations Tournament. With notable absentees (Ollivon, Danty, Fickou), possible returns (Baille, Ntamack) and big odds (Auradou, Jegou). We take stock.

Pillars

On the left, after six months of absence, Cyril Baille should find a place in the enlarged group. He has two Champions Cup matches left, at the Sharks and against Leicester, to improve his condition. Reda Wardi should accompany him and there remains a question regarding the form of Jean-Baptiste Gros, injured against Argentina in November and whose return is imminent. Behind him, Sébastien Taofifenua and Giorgi Beria are ready just in case.

On the right, the Rochelais Uini Atonio and Georges-Henri Colombe seem certain to be up for it. Unlike Bayonnais Tevita Tatafu, still not recovered from his ankle injury against the All Blacks in mid-November and far from being up to standard for a Tournament match. It’s up to Régis Montagne, present throughout the four weeks in Marcoussis in the fall, to take advantage of it.

XV of : who will be in the list of 42 for the 2025 VI Nations Tournament?

Hookers

This is the position where there are perhaps the most certainties: the Toulouse duo Mauvaka-Marchand leaves only crumbs to the competition, within which the Gaëtan Barlot generally takes the last place in the enlarged group. ’s Maxime Lamothe is a step behind.

Second lines

Who will accompany the titular Flament-Meafou team? Here again everything will depend on the health of Lyonnais Mickaël Guillard, injured in an ankle at the end of November and absent since. Alongside them, Joshua Brennan continues to put up big performances with Stade Toulousain and should return to Marcoussis. Romain Taofifenua, in the name of experience and his “pusher” profile, like Meafou, should complete the list. Unless he is overtaken by Hugo Auradou, who has been playing again for a while now with the Section Paloise.

In the event of Guillard's withdrawal, Woki and Vanverberghe, called up in November, apply. Will we have a surprise like Halagahu, present during the last Tournament, or Cazeaux? Or even Yacouba Camara, the native who has a string of great performances? The latter, although impeccable, seems to come from afar.

Third lines

Charles Ollivon's knee injury – the exact nature of which we are still awaiting – risks freeing up a place in a position where competition is dense. That of Bochaton (herniated disc) too. Among the captains, Cros, Boudehent, Alldritt and Roumat have their reserved place. Jelonch and Gazzotti should accompany them.

The big odds are that of Rochelais Oscar Jegou (who more or less has the profile of an Ollivon or Bochaton), sparkling with Stade Rochelais and (almost) free of his legal worries like Auradou.

Can Nouchi, who plays less at MHR and who was no longer called up after Japan, come back? He will compete with Bordeaux's Temo Matiu and Clermont's Killian Tixeront. Not selected in November, Esteban Abadie remains in ambush, just like Judicaël Cancoriet, who was in Argentina.

Scrumhalves

Who with Captain Antoine Dupont? In his wake, his lieutenant Nolann Le Garrec is sure to go. Behind it, there is a plethora of talents and leaders. Maxime Lucu is one of them and he is also like a fish in water in this group. Baptiste Serin, as breathtaking as he is with , will have difficulty shaking up this hierarchy. This is less about potential than the life of the group. To find out who has the best profile to be number three. Couilloud and Jauneau, formidable dynamiters, are further down the hierarchy.

Flying halves

It's the big return of Romain Ntamack. Seventeen months after his serious knee injury in preparation for the last World Cup, the Toulouse native will reunite with Marcoussis. Will he be accompanied by Matthieu Jalibert? Nothing is less certain. The situation will be the same as two months ago, with Ntamack added to the rotation. Thomas Ramos still in his hybrid role (just like Dupont), the Bordeaux flyhalf remains relegated. Léo Berdeu should complete the list.

Three-quarter center

The withdrawal of captain Gaël Fickou (93 caps) for the start of the competition is a hard blow. The Racingman has never missed a Tournament since Galthié has been coach. He can still come back, but in the meantime, Moefana, Depoortere and Gailleton will compete for the starting places. Behind them, Frisch and Barassi are expected. So there is still one place left. What about Léon Darricarrère, injured until then, and Paul Costes, replacing at Stade Toulousain in the matches that count? Arthur Vincent and Jules Favre are in ambush.

Wingers

The situation is quite clear on the wing. The Bielle-Biarrey, Penaud, Villière and Lebel quartet are one step ahead. If the staff chooses to call 24 forwards, they will not face competition. Otherwise, who could slip into the list? Hit on his knees in November, Attissogbe is still out. Will we see a UFO like Montpellier's Maël Moustin (still U20 world champion in 2023) or Toulon's Gaël Dréan? That would be a huge surprise…

Rears

Only an injury prevented Romain Buros from continuing against Argentina after facing New Zealand. His return this weekend to comes at the right time for the Blues staff. He will accompany Thomas Ramos. The latter's “opening half” option could save the day for Parisian Léo Barré.

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