Certain positions, such as the third line, are “hit” by an abundance of goods and a somewhat disrupted hierarchy in November. Others, like the opening or the pillars, sail according to injuries and returns. Overview of the major issues…
PILLARS
What state of form for Jean-Baptiste Gros, Cyril yawns and Tevita Tatafu?
To the left of the French scrum, the last tour in November was an opportunity for Jean-Baptiste Gros to confirm the hopes that the world of rugby had placed in him at the start of his career. Starting against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina, the Toulonnais had fulfilled his mission perfectly in closed scrum but was also very active in defense. Therefore, is he automatically promised a similar grade for the 6 Nations Tournament? Not necessarily, if we take into account that he has not played since the last test against Argentina (torn hamstring), and only resumed training this week with the RCT… Especially since we must add to the unknown of its health that of the competition. We first think of Cyril Yawnwho resumed competition this Saturday in La Rochelle. Operated on for a fractured fibula last year and unavailable for six months, the Toulouse pillar has been intrinsically the leader of the position in France for five years but it seems difficult to think that he will be, after such an injury, ready as soon as on January 31 for the opening of the competition against Wales. In any case, the Rochelais Reda Roses and the Varois Dany prisonerback at its best level, also stand in reserve for the republic.
On the right, the equation also deserves attention: if Wine Anthony remains the holder of the position, the French staff believes a lot in Bayonnais Avoid Close upcut down by an ankle ligament injury during the last France-All Blacks. Will he who, like Baille or Gros, has still not played a single match since November but will resume competition at the end of January with Bayonne, join the France group along the way? The question remains. Still, in this position, the future Toulouse George-Henri Dovevery good against the All Blacks in the fall, has always responded (with his qualities but also his faults in direct conquest) to the expectations placed on him by William Servat and Laurent Sempéré, the coaches in charge of the French forwards.
HALF OPENING
Ntamack – Ramos – Jalibert, crossed destinies
For several years, Fabien Galthié seemed to have freed himself from this eternal debate which had long plagued French rugby: “who is the opener of the XV of France?” Until the end of his first mandate, the hierarchy was clear: the incumbent was Romain Ntamack ; his (luxury) replacement was called Matthieu Jalibert ; the third, in the hierarchy, was the Rochelais Antoine I'm tired. During the match, Toulouse options Thomas Ramos and Antoine Dupont could also be explored. So what has changed since then? Quite a few things, actually. Already, Romain Ntamack has not appeared in blue for eighteen months, due to his injuries. In his absence, others had their chance. Matthieu Jalibert, first, in the logical continuation of the hierarchy. Disappointing in the 2024 6 Nations Tournament, then injured, he left the hand to Thomas Ramos to finish the competition with the number 10 on his back.
Which frankly convinced, and even more so last November, when he was this time inducted “incumbent in chief.” So where are we now? Between the great form of Thomas Ramos and the more timid one of Romain Ntamack, since his return to the field, the debate has returned. “Thomas Ramos is establishing himself at the opening and I wonder how Fabien Galthié will do for the opening of the Tournament. Thomas Ramos seems essential to me now at the opening”, judged Denis Charvet, for example, at the end of the fall tests. Below, Olivier Magne develops another argument. “That Romain Ntamack returns to the opening is obvious to me. […] On the big day, Romain will put out the right performance, I have no doubt about that.” It is this question, among others, that Fabien Galthié will soon have to answer. Also that of the fate now reserved for Matthieu Jalibert, after the controversies arising from his hasty departure from the group in November. At this stage, the Ntamack option remains the most considered internally, in a configuration which leaves Thomas Ramos on the field and in his preferred position, the back. It is always better to combine talents than to oppose them…
CENTRE
Who to replace Fickou in 13?
Victim of a fracture to his left thumb during the match between his Racing 92 and Lyon, Gael Fick will miss (at a minimum) the first two matches of the Tournament scheduled against Wales and England. A real blow for the XV of France which loses one of its executives, and especially its most capped player (93 caps). Before Fickou's strong return for New Zealand and Argentina, Fabien Galthié had placed his trust in the Palois Emilien Gailleton against Japan and during the summer tour to Argentina. But other men are knocking at the door, like the Girondin Nicolas Depoortère (2 capes) which, like its club, displays brilliant form. It’s also difficult not to mention the Toulousain Pierre-Louis Barassi (3 selections), author of superb performances in recent weeks. To conclude with the center position, we must also mention the injury to Rochelais Jonathan Danty. Like Fickou, he will not be able to apply for the first two matches of the XV of France. Doubled by Yoram Moefana in recent months, his last selection dates back to February 25, 2024, against Italy.
THIRD LINE
The era of dilemmas
Never, visibly, has the XV of France approached a calendar year and a Tournament with so many solid and credible candidates in the third line. Between the astonishing constancy of François Cros, Alexandre Mourn mat et Charles Ollivonthe return in the form ofAnthony Jelonchthe new dimension of Paul Boudehentthe emergence of Gazzotti, Matthew et Jegou or the rise in power of Gregory Bullshit (to name just a few), the staff had on paper the equivalent of three most promising and complete associations, with rich and varied profiles. This first day of the return phase, also the first of the year, however, served as a reminder that at the heart of the season, the injury factor inevitably reshuffles the cards.
On Saturday, Charles Ollivon fell and the Toulonnais should not, barring a miracle, get up for several weeks. He who had finished the tour in 8 and in the light could not be part of the 6 Nations (see below). If he will have an MRI this Monday to determine the exact nature of his injury, the Toulon staff like those of the French XV even fear a long unavailability and possibly a rupture of a cruciate ligament. A personal but also collective blow as its double guarantee of power – aerial play is precious. Given his excellent form, it was difficult to imagine not seeing him among the 23 for Wales…
What should we ultimately aim for? One of the big questions concerns the custodian of number 8. If Grégory Alldritt, valuable in the scratch on Saturday and generally good for a month, finds favor in the eyes of the coaches, the former interim captain could be associated with Alexandre Roumat and Paul Boudehent, as was the case against New Zealand, unless the “jack of all trades” François Cros finds his place. Between now and January 31 and the curtain rises on the Tournament, all projections will only be provisional: because the risk of injury looms but also because the Champions Cup, through the performances of everyone (that of Grégory Alldritt against Leinster will particularly be an opportunity for the Gersois to shine), should more or less reshuffle the cards. With all the aces and jokers he has in his hand, Fabien Galthié has quite a game at his disposal. It remains to optimize the assets…
