The Galthié doctrine should not evolve. As he has become accustomed to, the coach of the XV of France will adjust his starting XV only according to injuries and suspensions to challenge England on Saturday (5:45 p.m.), at Twickenham, in the Six Nations Tournament . At least that’s the trend for Wednesday afternoon training at Marcoussis, the last substantial session before the weekend Crunch.
Two weeks after dominating Scotland (32-21) at the Stade de France, the Blues should only know two changes, forced. The first as the right pillar, a major question mark after the suspensions of Uini Atonio and Mohamed Haouas. It was ultimately the most logical option that prevailed with the probable tenure of Bordeaux player Sipili Falatea, who entered the first three games of the competition. The Toulousain Dorian Aldegheri, called among the 42 for the first time of this Tournament, holds the rope to start on the bench.
In the third line, François Cros will unsurprisingly replace his Stade Toulousain partner Anthony Jelonch, whose participation in the World Cup is threatened after his knee injury against the XV du Chardon: he had surgery at the start of the week. The rest of the incumbents will not budge. After being called up and then sent back to the club before the match against Scotland, Jonathan Danty is applying to resume his starting position at the center three-quarter position. But it was Bordeaux-Bègles player Yoram Moefana who played among the starters on Wednesday afternoon.
New and vague on the bench
“The staff will make a decision after the day’s session,” warned the head of physical preparation of the Blues, Thibault Giroud, about Danty. The former Stade Français player took part in the session with the number 20, which should lead him to start on the bench at Twickenham.
This will experience a change of face, first with the package of Matthieu Jalibert. Hit in the left ankle in training on Wednesday, Romain Ntamack’s opening lining will not travel to London since he is one of the 14 players released by the staff and returned to their club. He will not be replaced on the bench by another professional number 10 since Rochelais Antoine Hastoy and Lyonnais Léo Berdeu are also among the players sent back. This undoubtedly means that the staff will count on the back Thomas Ramos to slip into the position of opener in the event of a glitch for Romain Ntamack.
Maxime Lucu, designated replacement for Antoine Dupont at the nine-point position in the head of the staff, will be among the replacements, as will Toulouse hooker Peato Mauvaka, back from injury. The second line Romain Taofifenua as well as the left pillar Reda Wardi will also be on the bench.
The Parisian Sekou Macalou should also be on the bench thanks to his presence in the 23 in the first three games and his third line-winger versatility. This will allow the staff to build a bench with six forwards, to meet the physical challenge of England, and only two backs.
The likely line-up to face England on Saturday (5:45 p.m.)
Starting XV: Ramos – Penaud, Moefana, Fickou, Dumortier – (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont (cap.) – Ollivon, Alldritt, Cros – Willemse, Flament – Falatea, Marchand, Baille.
Replacements: Mauvaka, Wardi, Aldegheri, Chalureau, Taofifenua, Macalou, Lucu, Danty.