This is a list that is expected by all of France rugby. This Wednesday, the coach of the XV of France, Fabien Galthié, will reveal the names of the 42 players who will be selected for the World Cup in France (September 8-October 28), the big event of the start of the school year. The preparation of the Blues will begin on July 3 in Monaco.
The bulk of the backbone of the Blues, this famous “premium” team as the staff call it, is known with the essential elements that come from the Stade Toulousain, fresh champions of France (Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Cyril Baille, Thibaud Flament , Julien Marchand, Thomas Ramos…) or La Rochelle (Uini Atonio, Grégory Alldritt, Jonathan Danty). Toulouse flanker Anthony Jelonch, who started a race against time after his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the Tournament, should not be called up, but the staff are obviously counting on him.
But there are still some questions about the linings or the third position. This is particularly the case in the scrum half position where behind Antoine Dupont and Maxime Lucu, several players are in balance. Who from Baptiste Couilloud (Lyon), Baptiste Serin (Toulon) or Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92) will be called up? The recall of Serin, who has not been seen since November 2021 but who had a good end to the season with the RCT (even if he was hit in the knee in the Challenge Cup final), would be a first surprise.
The other surprise could come from the rear. Thomas Ramos is the indisputable holder of the position but, behind him, Melvyn Jaminet has lost points, after a bad season marred by injuries. Some wonder if Brice Dulin, blacklisted since his guilty raise against Scotland during the 2021 Tournament, could have a chance again. Regular and decisive with Stade Rochelais, he provides serious guarantees thanks to the length of his left foot and his safety under high balls. Problem, he does not stumble unlike his two rivals and Anthony Bouthier, called for the mini-internship in June, is also in the race.
The last question mark concerns Emmanuel Meafou. The massive second-line from Toulouse, of Australian origin, is in the small papers of Fabien Galthié and his assistants, who are still awaiting a waiver from World Rugby for him to be eligible for the France team. Small problem, during the final against the Maritimes, he was hit in the plantar fascia. That’s a lot of “if”… But the Blues have not lost hope of “capturing” him, as Fabien Galthié has said and repeated.
Newcomers should finally be part of this expanded group. Émilien Gailleton (Pau), top scorer in the Top 14 this season, and Louis Bielle-Biarrey (UBB), particularly prominent this season, were not selected for the Under-20 World Cup, which takes place from June 24 to July 14 in Cape Town, South Africa. Which necessarily suggests that they will be in the group of 42 players for the “big” World Cup.
After the announcement of this list, the group of 42 will leave for an internship from July 3 in Monaco. The final 33-man Worlds skimming will then take place on August 21. The Blues will – something unusual – play four preparation matches: two against Scotland (August 5 in Edinburgh and August 12 in Saint-Etienne), another against Fiji (August 19 in Nantes) and a last, after revelation of the final group, against Australia (August 26 at the Stade de France).
