Japan on the menu of a hungry XV of France

Published on : 18/11/2022 – 14:55

Unlike left prop Cyril Baille (groin injury) and second line Thibaud Flament (concussion), winger Damian Penaud will play well in the Blues’ third and final autumn test against Japan on Sunday, November 20, at Toulouse.

The Clermontois, who had delivered the XV of France during the difficult victory against Australia (30-29), of a test of which he has the secret, had to shorten his session at Marcoussis, hit in one knee, but he will have the opportunity to conclude this series of fall matches.

“Sometimes if we are a little less committed, we risk injury. This is what happened to Damian, who may not have digested the match. But a priori he is suitable,” said coach Fabien Galthié.

His presence was the only uncertainty before the announcement, Friday, November 18, of the composition of the team, a ritual that has become routine for the past three weeks, as the tricolor management repeats wanting to grow “the collective experience” of the team. , ten months before the 2023 World Cup.

“The ‘premium’ French team plays little, they play eight matches per season”, recalled Galthié to justify the few changes from one meeting to another, the Blues often being deprived of the Top 14 finalists during the summer tours.

A XV of France deprived of Antoine Dupont

The only three changes in the starting fifteen, compared to the first two matches (Australia and South Africa), were expected. In addition to the packages of Baille and Flament, the management had to manage the suspension of its captain Antoine Dupont, announced Thursday by World Rugby.

The French scrum half was suspended for four weeks after receiving a red card in the victory against South Africa (30-26) on November 12.

Those who replaced them to scrap successfully against the Springboks (30-26) logically take their place, such as Reda Wardi, whose Galthié “does not see his limits, he is gradually discovering himself”, and who will celebrate his first tenure as left pillar.

The second line Romain Taofifenua, usual “finisher” eager to “prove” that he can “also start the matches” will be aligned with Cameron Woki, while Maxime Lucu, faithful lining of Dupont, is associated with the hinge to Romain Ntamack.

If there was any doubt around the three-quarter center Jonathan Danty, who came out injured in the face after a brutal South African clearing in Marseille, his resumption of contact training on Thursday reassured. He will be present, alongside Gaël Fickou, within unchanged back lines, with the usual center Yoram Moefana again on the left wing and Thomas Ramos at the back.

Ollivon regains his captain’s stripes

First captain of the Galthié era, Charles Ollivon, who logically finds this function in the absence of Dupont, will form for the third time in a row a complementary third line with Grégory Alldritt and Anthony Jelonch.

Author of a successful entry to the wing during France-South Africa, the third line of business Sekou Macalou, with a rare profile – “a guy of 115 kg who runs at 37 km / h”, according to the director of the performance of the Blues Thibault Giroud -, will again offer several options on the bench.

Still on the bench, the second line of Montpellier Florian Verhaeghe could honor his first cape if he comes into play. “He did not expect it, but he was ready”, judged Galthié.

Taking advantage of Dupont’s suspension to climb the hierarchy, scrum half Baptiste Couilloud is making his first appearance of the fall in the 23 and could help France win a thirteenth consecutive victory and end the year 2022. undefeated. To do so, they must defeat Japan, a team that the Blues beat twice last July during a tour of the Land of the Rising Sun.

With AFP