Fabien Galthié will begin his second term without his best player and captain. Antoine Dupont has in fact decided to skip the Six Nations Tournament to go in search of Olympic gold. A major absence therefore, to which is added that of Romain Ntamack, victim of a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee in mid-August. For a French XV deprived of its Toulouse hinge. An option at scrum half also disappeared with the withdrawal of Baptiste Serin, who recently had shoulder surgery.
Other injury losses are to be deplored. The coach will have to do without two of his understudies at the pillar position, the right-hander Sipili Falatea (UBB, 14 caps, ruptured cruciate knee ligament) and the left-hander Jean-Baptiste Gros (RCT, 27 caps, cervical surgery). Latest blow to date, the absence of Pierre Bourgarit. Returning from a shoulder injury, the Stade Rochelais hooker relapsed on Sunday and will be out for at least three months.
Another absence, that of the LOU third-row wing, Dylan Cretin (selected 21 times by Galthié), also victim of a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee in mid-November. Finally, Thibaud Flament, who started in the second row, has not yet fully recovered from his broken big toe and could miss the opening match against Ireland on February 2 in Marseille, and, perhaps also, the trip to Scotland a week later.
In terms of the coach’s choice, some globalists are in danger. The second lines Bastien Chalureau and Paul Willemse, the center Arthur Vincent, the flanker Paul Boudehent, but also Sekou Macalou and Melvyn Jaminet, who have struggled to get back on track since the World Cup.
If Fabien Galthié, in the columns of L’Équipe, announced that he wanted to bring “80 to 90% of the current workforce” to the 2027 World Cup in Australia, a few places are up for grabs. The first potentials to be tested are known. The Australian from Stade Toulousain, Emmanuel Meafou, now naturalized French, will be summoned. His profile – massive and powerful second row – was lacking during the recent World Cup.
Another applicant in the cage, the young Posolo Tuilagi (19 years old). Crowned U20 world champion last June, the Perpignan player displays the same profile (145 kg on the scale!), heavy and destructive. Still a little soft for the high level but it is undoubtedly time to accelerate his learning with a view to 2027. Still ahead, the third center line of the UBB, Marko Gazzotti (19 years old, U 20 world champion also) , could be part of this first list.
Behind, the novices could be more numerous. Thus the center of the UBB Nicolas Depoortère (more than his alter ego from Stade Toulousain Paul Costes) and the fly-half from Stade Rochelais Hugo Reus (also U20 world champions), without forgetting the scrum half of Racing Nolann Le Garrec and Stade Français Paris fullback Léo Barré (both 21).
In search of an understudy to Uini Atonio at the right pillar position, and in the absence of Falatea, the coach and his staff could rely on Thomas Laclayat. The neo-Racingman was part of the group of 42 players selected to prepare for the World Cup but did not make the cut. At 26 years old, and one selection, the former Oyonnax player has a card to play. At the left pillar position, behind Cyril Baille and Reda Wardi, Fabien Galthié could call on Bordeaux Ugo Boniface (26) for the first time. Tall and strong (1.90 m; 125 kg), he took advantage of UBB’s good start to the season to show his advantage. As third hooker behind Toulouse’s Mauvaka and Marchand, the loss of Rochelais Bourgarit will be compensated by the return of Castres Gaëtan Barlot or a first for Bordeaux’s Maxime Lamothe.
But the big surprise could be called… Paul Gabrillagues. To compensate for the occasional absence of Thibaud Flament, L’Équipe revealed that the French staff was thinking of the Parisian, although he has not been seen in the blue jersey since the quarter-final of the World Cup… 2019 (16 caps, 30 years old). The fact that Stade Français is now dominated by two former Galthié deputies, Laurent Labit and Karim Ghezal, is certainly not unrelated. On the wing, Toulouse’s Matthis Lebel could be revived. Big odds finally with Aviron Bayonnais winger Rémy Baget (26 years old), author of some notable performances this season with the Basque club.
Maxime Lucu, Baptiste Couilloud and Nolann le Garrec will certainly be the three number 9s on this list of 34 names. The Bordeaux player, Dupont’s usual understudy, should climb the hierarchy and start the matches. Maxime Lucu has in his favor his club association with Matthieu Jalibert, promised to the position of opener, and his remarkable performances with the UBB for two months. Boss, manager, regularly decisive, he displays all his potential at the right time and deserves to finally emerge from the shadow of Antoine Dupont to direct the game of the Blues.
One name seems to naturally emerge: that of Charles Ollivon, first captain of the Galthié era who regularly took over when Antoine Dupont was absent. Hit in the thigh on January 8, however, doubt hangs over his participation in the first matches of the Tournament. If the Toulon third row were to give up, Toulouse Anthony Jelonch and Rochelais Grégory Alldritt hold the rope for the armband. Gaël Fickou, the most capped in this group (85 caps), is an option less favored by the staff.
Pillars: Atonio, Aldegheri, Laclayat; Baille, Wardi, Boniface Hookers: Marchand, Mauvaka, Barlot or Lamothe Second line: Meafou, Woki, R. Taofifenua, Tuilagi or Gabrillagues Third line: Alldritt, Cros, Jelonch, Ollivon, P. Boudehent, Gazzotti or Tanga Scrumhalf: Lucu, Le Garrec, Couilloud Openers: Jalibert, Hastoy, Reus Centers: Danty, Fickou, Moefana, Depoortère Wings: Penaud, Bielle-Biarrey, Lebel or Villière Backs: Ramos, Barré
