A last rehearsal before the inauguration with great fanfare. The XV of France plays its fourth and last preparation match on Sunday (5:45 p.m.), against Australia, at the Stade de France. For his last trial run, Fabien Galthié and his deputies have decided to line up what looks like their typical team of the moment, the one that should challenge the All Blacks, on September 8, in this same Dionysian enclosure.

After Romain Ntamack’s package for the World Cup (ruptured knee ligaments), it is logically his usual understudy, Matthieu Jalibert (UBB), who collects the keys to the truck against the Wallabies. He will be associated with the tricolor captain, Antoine Dupont (Toulouse), who will play his second match of the summer after facing Scotland in Saint-Étienne.

The left pillar Cyril Baille (Toulouse), hit in the calf and absent for at least four more weeks, gives way to Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon), who has long been the official “finisher” of the position, before injuring his radius and to be sidelined for six months. He has demoted in the hierarchy behind Redi Wardi (La Rochelle), left to rest on Sunday but who should start the World Cup.

In the pack, Paul Willemse continues, after returning to Beaujoire following hamstring problems, and will be associated with Thibaud Flament, now indisputable on the left of the cage. Also back after hamstring glitches, François Cros (Toulouse) retains his starting spot, after also finding the pitch in Nantes, and will form the typical third line of the Blues (in the absence of Anthony Jelonch) with Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle) and Charles Ollivon (Toulon). This will be the ninth time that they will be associated in the France team.

For the rest, the three-quarter line is the “premium”, even if the staff does not want to use this term anymore. With Thomas Ramos (Toulouse) at the back, Jonathan Danty (La Rochelle) – who continues after having started at La Beaujoire – and Gaël Fickou (Racing 92) at the center, accompanied by Damian Penaud (UBB) and Gabin Villière (Toulon) to the wings. Very heavy against the Wallabies.

Monday, when announcing his group of 33 players for the World Cup (September 8-October 28), Fabien Galthié had argued that reservists could be retained for this last preparation match. This is the case of the pillar Sébastien Taofifenua (Lyon). Called up after Cyril Baille’s injury, he will be on the substitutes’ bench, to allow Redi Wardi to breathe. No other reservists were ultimately retained. Also note the return to the “finishers” of Romain Taofifenua (Lyon), who was injured in the hamstrings and will play his first match of the summer.

It is an Australian team in full doubt that Antoine Dupont and his teammates will face. Since the return as coach of Eddie Jones, a former mentor of Japan and England, the Wallabies have conceded four defeats, notably finishing last in the Rugby Championship. The last confrontation between France and Australia dates back to November 5, 2022 and a short success of the Blues 30-29. In the summer of 2021, with a team deprived of its best elements, the XV of France had conceded two narrow defeats in three tests (23-21 and 33-30), but had won the second test match in Melbourne (26- 28).

The composition of the XV of France: Ramos – Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Villière – Dupont (cap), Jalibert – Ollivon, Alldritt, Cros – Willemse, Flament – Atonio, Marchand, Gros.

Substitutes: Mauvaka, S. Taofifenua, Aldegheri, R. Taofifenua, Woki, Boudehent, Couilloud, Jaminet.