Today's training in Marcoussis held a few surprises. In the center, will Yoram Moefana be preferred to Gaël Fickou to face the Japanese in Saint-Denis?
In fact, the first high-intensity training session of the week was particularly awaited by the observers of the French XV who gathered around the main field on Tuesday afternoon. In Marcoussis, Fabien Galthié and his staff had to remove doubts, throughout the session in question and through the traditional game of chasubles, on several uncertainties: the number 1 choice at the opening, a three-quarter center position where Emilien Gailleton, Gaël Fickou and Yoram Moefana were neck and neck, even a right pillar position at which Bayonnais Tevita Tatafu was the favorite until Uini Atonio, long announced injured, joined the National Rugby Center at the start of the week. So, the verdict?
The surprise today came from the presence of Yoram Moefana in the team of presumed starters, alongside Palois Emilien Gailleton. Will the two men, in very good shape since the start of the season, overtake the essential Gaël Fickou and his 90 caps? Wednesday's training should say more on this subject but the truth of the moment, in Marcoussis, gave this Tuesday Moefana and Gailleton in the middle of a three-quarter line co-led by Antoine Dupont and Thomas Ramos. During the session, it was Antoine Frisch, and not Fickou, who even rotated with Yoram Moefana in midfield.
Roumat, it is now certain
In the forward pack, Alexandre Roumat was again dressed in a starting bib alongside Gregory Alldritt and François Cros, a combination a priori leaving Charles Ollivon on the substitutes' bench. The second line, based on the power of Emmanuel Meafou and the talent of Thibaud Flament, therefore did not present the slightest surprise when on the front line, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Peato Mauvaka and Tevita Tatafu will probably start against Japan. Barring disaster and despite the return to Marcoussis of Uini Atonio or the availability of George-Henri Colombe, the Bayonnais Tatafu should experience his first selection on Saturday evening.
La composition probable : 15. Barré ; 14. Penaud, 13. Gailleton, 12. Moefana ou Fickou, 11. Bielle-Biarrey ; 10. Ramos, 9. Dupont ; 7. Roumat, 8. Alldritt, 6. Cros ; 5. Meafou, 4. Flament ; 3. Tatafu, 2. Mauvaka, 1. Gros
Substitutes: 16. Marchand, 17. Wardi or S. Taofifenua, 18. Colombe, 19. R. Taofifenua, 20. Ollivon, 21. Serin or Lucu, 22. Frisch or Fickou, 23. Jalibert
