Three months after the elimination in the quarter-finals of “its” World Cup played at home, the XV of France faces Ireland, another injured beast of the World Cup, in a spirit of reconquest, on Friday in Marseille (9 p.m.), in opening of the 2024 Six Nations Tournament.
The star and the French captain, Antoine Dupont, focused on the rugby sevens event of the Olympic Games in Paris, is replaced for the first time in his role as captain by his long-time friend, the third row center Grégory Alldritt ( La Rochelle).
Injuries, but a shock against Ireland
If Anthony Jelonch (knee), Romain Ntamack (knee), Thibaud Flament (foot), Sipili Falatea (knee), Melvyn Jaminet (crutch) or Emmanuel Meafou (knee) are absent, center Gaël Fickou, winger Damian Penaud, the flanker Charles Ollivon, the fly-half Matthieu Jalibert or the pillar Cyril Baille are there.
For its part, the Clover XV is under reconstruction after the retirement of its totem and opening half Jonathan Sexton, and will also be accompanied by a shower of packages (winger Mack Hansen, number ten Ross Byrne , pillar Dave Kilcoyne…).
Despite everything, the teammates of new boss Peter O’Mahony should continue to rely on what has been their strength for many years: iron discipline, precise offensive play, formidable aggression around the rucks… Enough to give a shock, a real one, between the XV of France and Ireland.
The opening match of the Six Nations Tournament between France and Ireland will kick off this Friday, February 2 at 9 p.m. The meeting will be broadcast in full on France 2 and can be followed live with commentary on leparisien.fr.
