Fabien Galthié will unveil this Wednesday the list of 42 players selected for the opening of the Tournament, Friday January 31 at the Stade de France against Wales.
It’s always a moment eagerly awaited: the coach’s first list for the Six Nations Tournament. This Wednesday during the day, via a simple press release, the FFR will communicate the first choices of Fabien Galthié and his staff regarding the 42 elected officials. With many uncertainties to resolve.
We already know two notable absentees: Charles Ollivon (ruptured cruciate knee ligaments, season ended) and Gaël Fick (thumb operation, unavailable until the end of February). Without forgetting Posolo Locationvictim of a tibia-fibula injury at the end of September and still unavailable. Just like the Demba pillars Bamba (Racing 92) et Sipili the palate (UBB), in the recovery phase after their injuries.
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Other packages are to be feared. The La Rochelle Uini pillars Anthony (knee) and Reda Roses (ribs) were affected on Sunday in the Champions Cup and are very uncertain. Just like the back of the UBB, Romain pregnantleft with a damaged ankle in the clash against Exeter on Saturday. Another possible blow, the absence of Toulouse third row Alexandre Mourn mat (calf muscle injury).
Baptiste Serin, the great forgotten?
There will also be absentees by choice of the coach. This will probably be the case for Baptiste Cool. Irresistible with Toulon, the scrum half with 46 caps should be a victim of the hierarchy established in the position by Galthié: a starter, a promising youngster, a veteran who doesn’t make waves, namely Dupont-Le Garrec-Lucu.
-Absents but also (great) returns. First of all, Toulouse Cyril Yawn (31 years old, 52 caps). Six months after his serious injury (ruptured ankle ligaments and fractured fibula) in the Top 14 semi-final, the left pillar returned to competition two weeks ago. Enough, given his experience, to rejoin the Blues. Ditto for Toulon pillar Jean-Baptiste Gros. Injured in a thigh during the November tour, he is about to return to the field with the RCT.
Ntamack and Jalibert return
Others absent from November, the Bordelais Nicolas Depoortère (orbital fracture) and Damian Sheepish (pneumonia) logically make their returns. Just like Roman Ntamack. Forfeited for the World Cup then injured again just before the November tour, the Stade Toulousain flyhalf will make his comeback in blue a year and a half after his last selection, in August 2023. And, semi-surprise , despite his success in November – unhappy at only being a reservist, he slammed the door before France-All Blacks -, Matthieu Jalibert should also be part of this list.
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But the sensation of this list should be Hugo’s encores Auradou and Oscar Jegou. The Palois and the Rochelais had honored their first selection last July in Argentina. Before hitting the legal headlines for an alleged rape. The trial resulted in a dismissal and, although the plaintiff’s appeal will be examined on February 10 in Mendoza, the second row and the flanker should be part of this list. The president of the FFR, Florian Grill, announced less than an hour after the verdict in their favor that they were again eligible for selection. And Fabien Galthié had warned from the start of the affair: “I don’t speak of them in the imperfect tense”…
Finally, novelty department, hardly any surprises to expect. Already summoned in November, the very promising third line of the UBB, Temo Matthewshould this time be on the initial list. The big odds would be the summons of the Toulonnais Gaël Le Dréan best try scorer in the Top 14 (tied with the Fijian from Bayonne, Maqala), in balance with the Palois Theo Attisogbe and the Toulouse Matthis Lebel to complete the trio of wingers Bielle-Biarrey-Penaud-Villière.
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