The coach of the XV of France, Fabien Galthié, announced, Monday August 21, the list of 33 players selected for the Rugby World Cup. The talented Antoine Dupont logically remains the captain of this very young group in which the winger Louis Bielle-Barrey managed to slip after only 3 selections for the Blues.
Published on: 08/21/2023 – 13:44Modified on: 08/21/2023 – 13:59
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It is difficult to know whether coach Fabien Galthié was thinking of his own experience when he explained, 36 hours before publicly revealing the names of the 33 French players selected for the World Cup, that some players absent from this list may end up as “the heroes of this competition”. They are part of an additional group and will join the XV of France over injuries, as did former scrum-half Fabien Galthié during the 1999 World Cups and in 2003.
Guest of the television news on TF1, Fabien Galthié insisted, Monday, August 21, on the consistency of this selection, which stems from the work carried out with his assistants for almost four years at the head of the Blues. “We have a common experience through the nine competitions already played. This is the 10th test of our arrow of time”, explained Fabien Galthié, qualifying his players as “nuggets of French rugby”.
The questions were in fact mainly about the presence of two injured players: Anthony Jelonch, victim of a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee during the last Six Nations Tournament, and Cyril Baille, recently injured in the calf against Scotland. . Both are in the list of 33, although they are likely to miss the first matches of the competition.
Another injury has changed the plans of the tricolor coaching, that of the opener Romain Ntamack, package for the World Cup. Two players (Antoine Hastoy and Mathieu Jalibert) have been selected to fill this crucial position, which full-back Thomas Ramos and scrum-half Antoine Dupont are also capable of playing.
A final preparation match against Australia
Versatility will be very important within the selected group which has 20 forwards and 13 backs. Many players are able to switch positions depending on the circumstances of the match. And the swift third-line Sekou Macalou is even able to play with the three-quarters.
This player showed his qualities of speed by signing a good try during the victory of the Blues against Fiji (34-17), on August 19 in Nantes. This match was the third preparation meeting of the Blues for the World Cup, after two oppositions against Scotland. The fourth will take place on August 27 against Australia at the Stade de France, for a final dress rehearsal.
At the end of this meeting, the French will settle in their base camp, a large hotel in Rueil-Malmaison, in the Paris region. This is where they will prepare for the opening match of the World Cup, on September 8 against New Zealand. A very tough first challenge for the Blues who will then face less formidable opponents, Namibia, Uruguay and Italy.
The 19 other teams qualified for this competition are also preparing to take up residence in France, like Italy expected on September 3 in Bourgoin-Jallieu. Teams which will then travel to the ten French cities which will host meetings.
The list of 33 players:
Forwards (19)
Pillars: Cyril Baille, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Reda Wardi, Uini Atonio, Dorian Aldegheri, Sipili Falatea
Hookers: Julien Marchand, Peato Mauvaka, Pierre Bourgarit
Second row: Thibaud Flament, Cameron Woki, Paul Willemse, RomainTaofifénua,
Third row: Grégory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon, François Cros, Paul Boudehent, Sekou Macalou, Anthony Jelonch.
Backs (14):
Scrum half: Baptiste Couilloud, Antoine Dupont, Maxime Lucu
Fly-half: Mathieu Jalibert, Antoine Hastoy
Centers: Jonathan Danty, Gaël Fickou, Yoram Moefana, Arthur Vincent
Wingers: Guillaume Bielle Biarrey, Damian Penaud, Gabin Villière,
Backs: Thomas Ramos, Melvyn Jaminet.
