Fabien Galthié should renew the same starting XV as against Italy to face Ireland this Saturday (3:15 p.m.).
You don’t change a winning team, even in difficulty. A week after its laborious victory in Italy, the XV of France should field the same team on Saturday in Ireland for the second day of the Six Nations Tournament.
However, a slight uncertainty remains around third line Anthony Jelonch (26, 23 caps), who trained separately on Wednesday, without contact, mainly stretching and running, after his match with twenty tackles in Rome. But his probable participation is not questioned.
The staff of the Blues should therefore rely on fourteen of the players who went for the Grand Slam last year, adding to the wing the young Lyonnais Ethan Dumortier (22 years old, 1 cap). Little in verve, the third line Charles Ollivon (29 years old, 9 caps), penalized four times, should keep his starting place, like the second line Paul Willemse (30 years old, 25 caps).
Cros and Couilloud back
Finally, the rear Thomas Ramos would also be renewed, at the expense of Melvyn Jaminet (23 years old, 12 caps), just like Damian Penaud (26 years old, 38 caps) who completes the rear triangle.
On the bench, according to the teams observed in training, Baptiste Couilloud and François Cros should return to the group and take the place of Nolann Le Garrec and Thomas Lavault.
The list of 23 players summoned by the Blues to face Ireland, world No.1, on Saturday in Dublin, will be announced Thursday by Fabien Galthié and Raphaël Ibanez.
Probable team against Ireland: Ramos – Penaud, Moefana, Fickou, Dumortier – (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont (cap.) – Ollivon, Alldritt, Jelonch (or Macalou) – Willemse, Flament – Atonio, Marchand, Baille