Announcing this Thursday the composition of the XV of France for the first of its four friendly matches (Saturday, 4:15 p.m., in Edinburgh) before the World Cup, Fabien Galthié revealed that “60 players” were preparing the event: “the 42 with us and 18 who are preparing on their own, in their clubs, but have pledged to be ready if we have to call them”. Among them the new pillar of Racing 92, Thomas Laclayat, who was in the first list of 42, and the Toulousain Anthony Jelonch, in the process of recovery after his serious knee injury last March.
The coach also wanted to put into perspective the reduction of the group to 33 names, which will be unveiled on August 21 during the 13 Hours newscast of TF1. “The list is a non-event. We are quite clear on this vision. We do not play on ambiguity. Everything is possible. Of these 42, 33 names will be announced on August 21. But it’s not a finality, not a cut. If you look closely at all the World Cups, there are always events happening that you can’t imagine today, but we know that there will be injury-related changes. This list of 33 is therefore not an end in itself. The nine players (failed) have strong possibilities of returning during the World Cup. They even have a chance to watch her in their armchair and play the final as a starter…”
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