Experienced center Gaël Fickou will be a substitute for the French XV’s match against Japan on Saturday, a first for him since 2019 and under the mandate of Fabien Galthié.
Without the 30-year-old player, the most capped active player with 90 caps, the center of the French XV will be occupied by Bordelais Yoram Moefana and Palois Emilien Gailleton at the start of the first of three test matches in November.
A first in almost six years
Fickou had started in his last 48 appearances with the blue jersey since 1is February 2019 and the first match of the Tournament against Wales. A sign of his importance, he played all the matches of the last three Tournaments.
The coach of the French XV was not surprised by the trend observed during the last training sessions, after the announcement of a light suspension for Moefana following a red card taken in the championship.
The composition paves the way for the renewal of the squad three years from the World Cup.
A brand new pair of centers
Gaël Fickou’s central partner since the start of the Galthié era, Jonathan Danty was not part of the list of 42 players selected to prepare for the match. The new center pair is young, with 21 years and 3 selections for Emilien Gailleton and 24 years and 28 selections for Yoram Moefana.
Another notable absentee: the first captain of the Galthié era, third row Charles Ollivon was not selected for the match and is a reserve.
Dupont returns
The French XV will be able to count on the return of its captain Antoine Dupont, after a year of absence since the World Cup, to allow him to try the adventure of rugby sevens, from where he returns with gold. Olympic around the neck.
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Ramos flyhalf, Jalibert on the bench
The scrum half will be accompanied at the hinge by Thomas Ramos, as expected since the first training sessions. Ramos, who plays successfully as a full-back in his club Stade Toulouse, finished the last Six Nations Tournament as a fly-half, to compensate for long-term injuries to Romain Ntamack and then Matthieu Jalibert.
The good start to the season for the Union Bordeaux-Bègles opener was not enough to convince the coach to give him back his starting place in the absence of Romain Ntamack, injured in the calf.
After Japan on Saturday, the Blues will face New Zealand and Argentina, each time at the Stade de France.
The composition of the XV of France against Japan
Barré – Penaud, Gailleton, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey – (o) Ramos, (m) Dupont (cap.) – Roumat, Alldritt, Cros – Meafou, Flament – Tatafu, Mauvaka, Gros.
Substitutes: Marchand, Wardi, Colombe, Guillard, Boudehent, Lucu, Jalibert, Fickou.
Belgium
