The public of the Stade de France should be able to enjoy a typical XV of France on Sunday. In any case, this is what emerged from training on Tuesday, where the managers of the Blues played together on the lawn of the Capbreton stadium (Landes) with a view to preparing for the reception of Australia on Sunday ( 5:45 p.m.), final dress rehearsal before the start of the World Cup against the All Blacks on September 8 in Saint-Denis.
The usual holders wore a blue chasuble during a session where players lying on the list of 33 for the World Cup unveiled Monday by coach Fabien Galthié, and those who failed to be reservists like Baptiste Serin or Brice Dulin mingled. Among them, the leaders of the tricolor spine such as captain Antoine Dupont, the three-quarter center of Racing 92 Gaël Fickou or the hooker Julien Marchand.
Alldritt, Cros, Willemse and Danty should continue
To replace Romain Ntamack, natural choice for the post of opening half before his heavy injury against Scotland ten days ago, the staff will bet on Mathieu Jalibert against the Wallabies. Usual replacement for Toulouse, the opener for Bordeaux-Bègles disputes with Antoine Hastoy, aligned from the start against Fiji on Saturday, the position of number ten.
At least four starting players against the Pacific players in Nantes should start again on Sunday: second line Paul Willemse, third line Grégory Alldritt and François Cros and center three-quarter Jonathan Danty. Uini Atonio, who started against the Fijians, is balanced at right prop with Dorian Aldegheri.
Among the reserves, only the left pillar of Lyon Sébastien Taofifenua wore a blue chasuble during training. This would mean that the staff does not want to take a risk by playing two specialists of the position still available, Jean-Baptiste Gros and Reda Wardi on Sunday, while the usual holder Cyril Baille is injured and will miss the opening match against the New Zealand.
The possible composition of the Blues against Australia on Sunday (5:45 p.m.)
Ramos – Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Villière – (o) Jalibert, (m) Dupont (cap.) – Ollivon, Alldritt, Cros – Willemse, Flament – Atonio or Aldegheri, Marchand, Gros
