Special Envoy to Marcoussis
On August 21, it will be necessary to decide. During the 13 Hours of TF1, the coach of the XV of France will announce the 33 players selected for the World Cup (from September 8 to October 28). That is ten names to be cut since they are 43 to have taken part in the preparation since the beginning of July. If a big twenty are some starters, there are still many cases to be decided. And the first two preparation matches against Scotland, this Saturday in Edinburgh and August 12 in Saint-Etienne will be used for this skimming.
Thus, in Edinburgh (kick-off at 4.15 p.m.), it is a new-look team composition which is emerging according to the indications of the game of the chasubles, this Tuesday afternoon during high-intensity training at the CNR of Marcoussis. With three players who will probably honor their first selection against XV du Thistle. UBB winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Section Pau center Emilien Gailleton, who were exempted from the recent Under-20 World Cup to prepare with the ‘big’ Blues, are set to start the meeting Just like the La Rochelle European champion Paul Boudehent, in the third row.
More selected since 2021, another Rochelais, Brice Dulin, should make his big comeback at the back of the XV of France. Other returns, those of the pillars Demba Bamba (LOU) and Jean-Baptiste Gros (RCT). Without forgetting Cameron Woki, revived in the second row after losing his starting status through injury during the last Tournament in favor of Toulouse’s Thibaut Flament.
Among the players with a lot to play for a place among the 33, we can also mention scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud (in competition with Baptiste Serin for a folding seat behind Dupont and Lucu), center Yoram Moefana, second-row Bastien Chalureau or number 8 Yoan Tanga.
In the absence of Romain Ntamack, left to rest, Matthieu Jalibert will have the opportunity to lead the tricolor game. And to repel, or not, the increasingly insistent threat of Rochelais Antoine Hastoy, placed on the bench, for the role of understudy of the Toulouse French champion.
Fabien Galthié will officially announce his team composition for this first test on Thursday noon. He will also reveal the captain of this unprecedented team, Baptiste Couilloud holding the rope to occupy this function for the time of a test match.
The likely starting XV15. Dulin – 14. Bielle-Biarrey, 13. Gailleton, 12. Boy, 11. Dumortier – 10. Jalibert, 9. Couilloud – 8. Tanga, 7. Boudehent, 6. Macalou – 5. Chalureau, 4. Woki – Bamba, 2. Bourgarit, 1. Gros.Substitutes: 16. Mauvaka, 17. Wardi, 18. Falatea, 19. Willemse, 20. Cretin, 21. Vincent, 22. Hastoy, 23. Serin.