Clément Pédron, Media365, published on Saturday November 9, 2024 at 4:06 p.m.
The French team begins this Saturday evening at the Stade de France, the first meeting of their fall tour against Japan. The Blues now want to move forward after several difficult months on all grounds. With a target of 2027.
This meeting between France and Japan, counting for the first of three matches of this autumn tournament, is the kick-off of a series which should take the Blues to the 2027 World Cup organized in Australia. Already a year ago, during a World Cup at home, Fabien Galthié's men tasted the unpleasant taste of elimination against South Africa. This disappointment continued with a second place in an average Six Nations Tournament, marked by a large opening defeat against Ireland then a sad draw against Italy in the third match. The Tricolores alternated the less and the good like this final victory during the Crunch to conclude this competition.
And then summer arrived with its share of extra-sporting affairs, some of which are not yet finished. During an interview with our site, Florian Grill, the president of the French Rugby Federation, explained that there would be a before and an after Mendoza. He didn't lie. And this fall tour is the starting point. New living environment for the Blues, new objectives for the staff. The latter has his eyes fixed on the World Cup in Oceania but also on the Six Nations Tournament which begins on January 31 against Wales.
The return of Dupont
After several months in the shadows, French rugby wants to win back its audience and it starts this Saturday evening with a meeting against the Japanese selection at the Stade de France. In the Dionysian lair, the Blues intend to put smiles on the faces of their supporters and put the projectors back on what should always constitute our writings: the game, the game and more of the game. The return of Antoine Dupont should delight more than one. He is also the last to have set foot on the “SDF” pitch with this magnificent gold medal in the rugby sevens tournament of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Toulouse player took the time to recharge his batteries after his enchanted summer break and his return not only did his club good but also the staff of the French team who did not hesitate to give him back the armband . A figure much appreciated by the public, Antoine Dupont will happily reunite with his compatriots against Japan before a huge duel which is planned against New Zealand next Saturday.
The compositions
FRANCE : Barré – Penaud, Gailleton, Y. Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey – Ramos, Dupont – Roumat, Alldritt, Cros – Meafou, Flament – T. Tatafu, P. Mauvaka, JB Gros. SUBSTITUTES: Wardi, Marchand, Colombe, Guillard, Boudehent, Lucu, Jalibert, Fickou. SELECTOR: Fabien Galthié.
JAPAN: Tuitama – Naikabula, Riley, Fifita, Osada – Tatekawa, Saito – Himeno, Makisi, Shimokawa – Dearns, Uluiviti – Takeuchi, Harada, Okabe. SUBSTITUTES: Matsuoka, Morikawa, Tamefusa, Fakatava, T. Tatafu, Fujiwara, Kajimura, Matsunaga. SELECTOR: Eddie Jones.
