XV of France. 75 players lined up, Thomas Ramos the most used… The results of the Blues in 2024

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The year 2024 of the XV of France is over. In terms of results, this one is honorable, with 8 victories and 1 draw (against Italy) in 11 matches (the meeting in Uruguay is counted). Fabien Galthié has changed his mind. Executives were called into question, emulation was the watchword, and “the blue jersey is not a gift” according to the coach. In all, no less than 75 players were used in 2024: this is a record. At the time of Rugby reveals to you the results of the year 2024 player by player (taking into account playing time).

Front line: Mauvaka essential, Colombe takes advantage of it

Let's start with the hookers: after an XXL World Cup, Peato Mauvaka took on the starting role. The Toulouse player struggled during the Tournament, before going on a big autumn tour. He is number 1 for the position, ahead of Julien Marchand, who will always have a say with his complementary profile.

Gaëtan Barlot is the 3^e most used hooker, taking advantage of Pierre Bourgarit's injury absences. The Toulonnais Baubigny and the Racingman Tarrit start from further away. The Bordeaux player Lamothe, called up, has never been capped. It will be difficult for all of them to shake up the Toulouse duo, barring injury.

At the position of left pillar, with 221 minutes of play and a big autumn tour, the Toulonnais Jean-Baptiste Gros asserts himself as the understudy of Cyril Baille, who only played the Tournament and who is the boss. Reda Wardi, not undeserving, appears as the 3^e option. The Rochelais is ahead of Giorgi Beria.

Right pillar, it's a huge project. Uini Atonio is the captain and behind him, the Blues staff used options. Aldegheri seems to have lost a lot of ground, as do Bamba and Laclayat. George-Henri Colombe, himself, is the only forward of the XV of France to have participated in 2024 in the 6 Nations Tournament, the summer tour and the autumn tour: he hung on, and GHC should continue in 2025. The Bayonnais Tevita Tatafu, rented by William Servat, will be reviewed. Finally, let us point out that Sébastien Taofifenua, appreciated for his versatility, really counts in the eyes of the French management.

• Peato Mauvaka : 381 minutes
• Atonio's wine : 316 minutes
• Julien Marchand : 278 minutes
• George-Henri Colombe: 278 minutes
• Cyril Baille: 268 minutes
• Jean-Baptiste Gros: 221 minutes
• Sébastien Taofifenua: 178 minutes
• Reda Wardi: 153 minutes
• Gaëtan Barlot: 135 minutes
• Dorian Aldegheri : 90 minutes
• Demba Bamba : 87 minutes
• Teddy Baubigny : 81 minutes
• Giorgi Beria : 80 minutes
• Avoid Tatafu : 60 minutes
• Jannik Tarrit: 29 minutes
• Thomas Laclayat : 18 minutes

Second line: Flament-Meafou for a lease

Tested for the first time during the 2024 6 Nations Tournament, the Flament-Meafou duo signed for a long lease with the French team. The first is very regular, while the second has had a very significant physical impact. Meafou even gained strength in Blue throughout the year.

Behind ? Lyonnais Mickaël Guillard scored a lot of points. He is a great option for the future. Posolo Tuilagi will return one day, he who was seriously injured (tibia-fibula fracture) at the end of September. Romain Taofifenua will still bring his mass. For the others, we start from very, very far away. Especially since a Joshua Brennan could be invited again.

• Thibaud Flament: 335 minutes
• Emmanuel Meafou : 251 minutes
• Mickaël Guillard: 196 minutes
• Posolo Tuilagi : 187 minutes
• Cameron Woki : 113 minutes
• Paul Gabrillagues: 103 minutes
• Romain Taofifenua : 101 minutes
• Baptiste Pesenti : 92 minutes
• Florent Vanverberghe : 80 minutes
• Pierre-Henri Azagoh : 60 minutes
• Hugo Auradou : 52 minutes
• Paul Willemse: 22 minutes

Third line: Cros, Mr. Clean

Already performing well in 2023, François Cros confirmed that he was essential to the French XV. His 6 Nations 2024 is capital. More generally, 5 names clearly stand out and it will be hard to remove them, even if the staff removed (for a time) Ollivon and Alldritt from the starting XV. Roumat and Boudehent emerged clearly.

Note that Anthony Jelonch, injured for several months, did not play a minute in Blue in 2024. For him, we must react to not let the train leave. A train on which Marko Gazzotti and Lenni Nouchi could well board.

• François Cros: 494 minutes
• Charles Ollivon : 439 minutes
• Gregory Alldritt: 408 minutes
• Paul Boudehent : 302 minutes
• Alexandre Roumat: 277 minutes
• Lenni Nouchi: 160 minutes
• Romain Briatte : 120 minutes
• Jordan Joseph : 109 minutes
• Ibrahim Diallo : 91 minutes
• Oscar Jégou: 80 minutes
• Judicaël Cancoriet : 80 minutes
• Killian Tixeront : 63 minutes
• Marko Gazzotti : 40 minutes
• Yann Peysson : 29 minutes
• Esteban Abadie: 14 minutes

Hinge: Thomas Ramos, option n°1 bis

The year 2024 is that of Thomas Ramos. The Toulouse player was the most used Blue (640 minutes, or 8 matches all played in full). With the absence of Romain Ntamack, injured, and not lined up in 2024, the usual full-back has successfully slipped into number 10. Now 3^e best director in the history of the French XV, Ramos can be considered as the No. 1 option for the position of opener for the Blues.

For Matthieu Jalibert, nothing smiled. Starting in the 6 Nations, he was not convincing, then got injured. Relegated behind Ramos this fall, he didn't like it and let his coach know. Jalibert preferred to leave the France group, although he was scheduled to be a reserve against the All Blacks. Léo Berdeu could have passed Antoine Hastoy.

In the fray, despite high-level competition and quality solutions, the hierarchy seems very, very clear: 1. Dupont, 2. Le Garrec, 3. Lucu.

• Thomas Ramos : 640 minutes (don't 400 in n°10)
• Nolann Le Garrec: 243 minutes
• Antoine Dupont : 226 minutes
• Matthieu Jalibert : 225 minutes
• Maxime Luca: 199 minutes
• Antoine Hastoy : 160 minutes
• Baptiste Serin: 139 minutes
• Baptiste Couilloud: 60 minutes
• Léo Berdeu: 55 minutes
• Baptiste Jauneau: 41 minutes
• Joris Segonds : 25 minutes

Centre : L’interrogation Moefana

The pair of centers could be the big project for the French XV in 2025. Jonathan Danty, once indisputable, no longer necessarily seems in the plans. His successor, Yoram Moefana, has difficulty letting go at the international level. The Bordeaux player poses a big question, even if he seems to have the confidence of the French staff.

Gaël Fickou, with his 92 caps, provides his defensive guarantees, but we expect more in attack. Émilien Gailleton, with his freshness and pep, has everything to make a place for himself. Let us also point out that there will be the return of Nicolas Depoortère, and the UBB center had shown some very interesting things. The Antoine Frisch option cannot be ruled out, but it starts a little further.

• Gaël Fickou: 577 minutes
• Yoram Moefana : 388 minutes
• Émilien Gailleton: 243 minutes
• Jonathan Danty : 167 minutes
• Antoine Frisch : 160 minutes
• Nicolas Depoortere: 133 minutes
• Arthur Vincent : 80 minutes
• Léon Darricarrère: 80 minutes

Wingers/Backs: Bielle-Biarrey, the sensation

The sensation of the year 2024 is Louis Bielle-Biarrey. Supersonic, the Bordeaux-Bègles winger is now indisputable. He scored 5 tries. With his friend Damian Penaud, the tricolor wings seem reserved. Villière hasn't had a bad comeback this fall, and Attissogbe is full of promise. Lebel now only appears, at best, on 5^e choice.

At the back, if Romain Ntamack returns, Thomas Ramos remains the No. 1 option. But if the latter is fixed at the position of No. 10, then there will be a big match between the Bordelais Romain Buros and the Parisian Léo Barré (the only full-back who played in 2024 the 6 nations, the tour to Argentina and the tour of 'autumn). Perhaps a small advantage for the Girondin. The rest of the competition, whether on the wing or in No. 15, is dropped.

• Louis Bielle-Biarrey: 486 minutes
• Léo Barré: 427 minutes
• Damian Penaud: 400 minutes
• Théo Attissogbe : 237 minutes
• Lester Etienne: 160 minutes
• Gabin Villière: 160 minutes
• Matthis Lebel : 80 minutes
• Joris Jurand: 80 minutes
• Jules Favre : 80 minutes
• Romain Buros: 69 minutes
• Lucas Dubois : 65 minutes
• Nathanaël Hulleu: 15 minutes
• Melvyn Jaminet: 7 minutes

Some numbers to remember

• Number of players lined up in 2024: 75
• Most used player: Thomas Ramos (640 minutes)
• Most used forward: François Cros (494 minutes)
• The Top 3 most used players: Ramos (640 min), Fickou (577), Cros (494)
• Player with the lowest playing time: Melvyn Jaminet (7 minutes)
• They did the 6 Nations, the summer tour and the fall tour: Colombe and Barré.

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