The staff of the XV of France revealed on Monday the list of 42 players selected for the three tests of the November tour. With a few surprises.
The bets were going well. Who to replace branded packages for this November tour which will see the XV of France face Australia (November 5 at the Stade de France), South Africa (12 in Marseille) and Japan (20 in Toulouse)? Cyril Baille, François Cros, Gabin Villière, Arthur Vincent and Melvyn Jaminet – for the main executives – out, Fabien Galthié and his deputy had to call (or call back) understudy.
And they surprised. At the back, for example. Where Brice Dulin disappears from a list featuring Anthony Bouthier and Romain Buros to accompany Thomas Ramos who appears to be the big favorite for number 15. But not as much as for the center position. Where two novices are appearing: Pablo Uberti (24 years old, UBB) and Ethan Dumortier (21 years old, LOU), the latter can also play on the wing. A winger position which records the great return of Alivereti Raka to compensate for Gabin Villière’s package. No trace, however, of a few whispered names, those of the Toulousain Dimitri Delibes or the Toulon meteorite Gaël Dréan.
Léo Berdeu preferred to Louis Carbonel
At the opening, Romain Ntamack is present in the list. Victim of a tibiofibular sprain of the right ankle on September 11, the Toulousain is better; It’s uncertain whether he’ll be back for Sunday night’s clash against Stade Rochelais but he should be fully recovered by the first test. Little surprise in the position of number 10 where, behind Ntamack and Jalibert, and in the absence of injured Antoine Hastoy, the young Lyonnais Léo Berdeu (one of the eight players with zero selection) was preferred to Louis Carbonel, yet his advantage under his new Montpellier colors at the start of the season.
In front, to compensate for the absence of the left pillar Cyril Baille, the Rochelais Réda Wardi and Dany Priso will be in competition, as in a club. No doubt for a folding seat, the number 1 being promised to Toulonnais Jean-Baptiste Gros. Already present last June for the tour in Japan (but without honoring his first selection), the pillar of Oyonnax Thomas Laclayat is the only player from Pro D2.
The second line of the LOU, Killian Geraci, back
In the third line, the coaches complete their brelan of holders (Alldritt, Jelonch, Ollivon) with the Rochelais Yoan Tanga, the Palois Jordan Joseph and the Montpellier Alexandre Bécognée. Finally, in the second row where Romain Taofifenua, victim of a broken sternum but fit within two weeks, is present, we see the great return of his Lyon teammate Killian Geraci.
