There was a back-to-school air this week in Marcoussis. At the National Rugby Center in Essonne, the players of the French XV are gathered to prepare for the Six Nations Tournament, which begins on February 2 against Ireland. One week before this shock in Marseille, the 28 Blues who remained at the CNR this Thursday, reinforced by five hopefuls from the Top 14 for the occasion (including the Parisian Léo Barré and the Catalan Posolo Tuilagi), played a second intense session under the grayness.
The group of 23 who should be lined up at the Vélodrome stadium is starting to take shape, if we rely on the players who wore the blue bibs this Thursday in training. Only Matthieu Jalibert, probable starter at the opening, was preserved on the edge of the field, and replaced during the session by Antoine Gibert.
Jalibert injured in the hand
“Matthieu cut his hand awkwardly,” explained Nicolas Jeanjean, performance director of the French XV. It’s not a big cut, but it was better to protect his hand over these two days of training. He will normally be present on the field on Saturday. »
For the rest, Maxime Lucu should start in the scrum in the absence of Antoine Dupont who is not playing this Tournament to prepare, from February, the Olympics with the French 7s team. Racingman Nolann Le Garrec should be the replacement number 9 in Marseille.
In the pack, note the probable tenure of Peato Mauvaka, in full swing since the World Cup, and ahead of his Toulouse teammate Julien Marchand in the hierarchy of hookers. The main surprise would come from the second line, where the returning Parisian Paul Gabrillagues, not called up for 4 years, is expected to start alongside Paul Willemse, pushing Cameron Woki to the bench.
France-Ireland, “the match that everyone is waiting for”
The third row is more usual, in the absence of the unfortunate Anthony Jelonch, victim of a ruptured knee ligament. It will be made up of the new captain Grégory Alldritt, surrounded by Charles Ollivon and François Cros. “With Greg and Charles, we have the advantage of knowing each other well, living well together and being on the ground,” recognized François Cros.
The three-quarter line is the one which played most of the World Cup, notably with the center pair Fickou-Danty, even if the latter, concussed with his club La Rochelle, has not yet was able to resume high-intensity contacts.
After a rather calm day this Friday, the 28 Blues who remained in Marcoussis this weekend will train, in public, Saturday at the CNR in Marcoussis. Before launching an intense week which will take them towards the formidable Irish “We want to bounce back and find victory with this group, from Friday against Ireland, bruised and frustrated like us after this World Cup, recognized François Cros. This is the match that everyone is waiting for. »
The French XV possible against Ireland
Ramos – Bielle-Biarrey, Danty, Fickou, Penaud – (o) Jalibert, (m) Lucu – Cros, Ollivon, Alldritt (cap.) – Gabrillagues, Willemse – Baille, Mauvaka, Atonio.
