Fabien Galkié unveiled his starting composition for the match on Saturday against Scotland this Thursday, which could see the XV of France win the VI Nations tournament in the event of a victory.
End of suspense! We have known since Thursday morning the composition of the XV of France which will try to go to win a 27th tournament of the 6 nations in the event of victory (improved or not, it will depend on Ireland and England a little earlier) against Scotland. An XV of France in accordance with what was expected following the injury package by Antoine Dupont (rupture of the crossed ligaments of the right knee) and Pierre-Louis Barassi (Commotion). The scrum -and -a half captain will be replaced, as in Dublin where he had been very good, by Maxime Lucu. The Bordeaux-Bègles player will honor his 27th selection, the first as a holder since the sad match against Italy a year ago. He will form the hinge with Romain Ntamack (40th selection), who had returned to suspension in Ireland. Pierre-Louis Barassi’s replacement will be Gaël Fickou.
Absent at the start of the tournament due to thumb injury, then present in the group of 42 but not on the match sheet, the center of Racing 92, very good at training according to the words of Fabien Galkié, finds a place of holder, for a 94th selection. Fickou will occupy the center with the excellent Yoram Moefana (36th selection), while the wings, as in Dublin, will be occupied by the outstanding test markers that are Louis Bielle-Bierrey (19th selection, 17 tests) and Damian Penaud (56th selection, 38 tests). Thomas Ramos (44th selection) will wear the No. 15, with undoubtedly in a corner of the head the record of points in the French team of Frédéric Michalak, since he is only six points behind (436 against 430).
An unchanged pack
On the forward side, Fabien Galkié has chosen the same first line as since the start of the tournament, with Jean-Baptiste Gros (37th selection), Peato Mauvaka (42nd selection) and Uini Atonio (68th selection). Mickaël Guillard (10th selection) and Thibaud Flament (32nd selection), as in Rome and Dublin, retain the second -line coach’s confidence.
On the third line, Grégory Alldritt (56th selection), who will be captain in place of Antoine Dupont, Paul Boudehent (19th selection) and François Cros (39th selection) are renewed. On the bench, the coach hesitated for a long time between a “6-2” and a “7-1” finally chose a “7-1” as in Italy and Ireland, with Nolann Le Garrec as the only three-quarter. Oscar Jegou will compensate for a possible injury to the center.
The XV of France against Scotland: Ramos-Penaud, Fickou, Moefana, Bielle-Biarey-Nentamack, Lucu-Aldtt (Cap), Boudehent, Cros-Guillard, Falle-Atonio, Mauvaka, Gros
Substitutes: Baille, merchant, Aldegheri, Auradou, Meafou, Jelonch, Jegou, Le Garrec
