Each World Cup has its share of small surprises, late revelations, last-minute calls. Louis Bielle-Biarrey (UBB) and Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle) honored their first international selections this summer. And they convinced against Scotland and Fiji. Regarding the young Girondin winger or rear, Fabien Galthié explained: “We wondered whether we would take him or leave him to the U20s (for the World Cup). But we said to ourselves: “Today, he is among the 42 best French players.” We can never close the door to hatching, it is hope that allows us to feed a whole generation of children. You can dream and realize your dream, they do it, and it’s not over, Louis is the example. Just like Paul Boudehent. The double European champion with La Rochelle immediately made his mark in the blue jersey. Even finishing at the post of… center.

Versatility, the keyword of this list of 33 players. There are indeed many players who can play in several positions. Thus Sekou Macalou (third line or winger), Peato Mauvaka (hooker or number 8), Cameron Woki (second or third line), Thomas Ramos (back or opener) as well as Yoram Moefana and Arthur Vincent (center or winger) offer several options tactics to the tricolor staff, who can more easily compose a bench of substitutes with six forwards and two backs (including a scrum half). “We looked for a form of balance between individual potential and the whole group,” explains the coach.

Above all, Fabien Galthié and his assistants have favored the shared experience of the France group for more than three years. This explains the sidelining of Baptiste Serin and Brice Dulin, who had not been summoned for more than two years.

Some essential players of 2020, back from injury or still in the recovery phase, have not lost thanks to the eyes of the coach. Are thus present Arthur Vincent, after two years undermined by glitches; Cyril Baille, injured in the calf and absent for another four weeks minimum; Anthony Jelonch, who has just returned to training after his serious knee injury during the Tournament; Romain Taofifenua, who did not play in August due to hamstring pain. For his part, Melvyn Jaminet, long injured in the ankle this season, signed a resounding return to Nantes on Saturday. “He surely has the longest kicking game on the world circuit,” insists the tricolor coach.

To read also XV of France: who is Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the nugget of Bordeaux-Bègles launched against Scotland?

To justify these choices, Galthié relied on “their level of rugby player”. “This is the first criterion, they are players of international level, without any discussion. They have been part of our story for four years and they have been brilliant. We made a projection on a competition that will last a month for the qualifying phase. And to add: “We imagine that Cyril Baille and Anthony Jelonch will surely be available for the last pool match against Italy.”

Afterwards, all is not lost for the eleven reserve players for this World Cup. Recent history has shown that there are often breakages during competition. “The challenge is not easy for them, recognizes Galthié. But we count on them. We know they can get on the bus at any time. Everything that we have put in place for four years, its raison d’être, it is there. Nothing says that these players will not be present in four weeks to wear the blue jersey. Even if they were not selected, several of them should even participate in the fourth and final preparation match, Sunday (5:45 p.m.) against Australia. “We made them an offer: are you able to continue your journey with us? Depending on the team composition, they will be with us until Sunday or Wednesday.

In the end, the tricolor staff played on continuity. Referring to this famous “time line” drawn for more than three years. Present since the beginning of the adventure, only three brand names – Bernard Le Roux (concussions), Virimi Vakatawa (heart anomaly) and Romain Ntamack (cruciate ligaments) – are missing for the big meeting in France.

Eight players were already part of the adventure in Japan in 2019: Baille, Mauvaka, Ollivon, Alldritt among the forwards; Dupont, Fickou, Penaud and Ramos behind. For now, the mission of these Blues will be, initially, to qualify for the quarter-finals, where the Irish or the South Africans await them. “We tried to create this group with a balance that can allow us to spend the month of September”, plant Galthié. For future ambitions, we will see later…