2023-08-21 13:44:52
After final hesitations and other last-minute arbitrations, the group of the XV of France for the World Cup (September 8-October 28) is now known. Coach Fabien Galthié unveiled this Monday August 21 the names of those who will try to bring the country its first world crown, after three failures in the final (1987, 1999, 2011).
The boss of the Blues described this weekend the announcement of the list of “non-event”. However, he did something new on Monday, with names revealed in dribs and drabs by licensees, educators and other anonymous people who bring French rugby to life, broadcast during the 1 p.m. newscast of TF1. It was up to Galthié to cross out nine names from his pre-selection of 42 players. The majority of those cited by the former scrum half on the set of TF1 was already consensus. We find there the “premium” players, an overused expression that Galthié no longer wants to use, but which designates the usual executives. In this case, we are talking here about scrum half Antoine Dupont, rear Thomas Ramos, center Gaël Fickou, winger Damian Penaud or third line Grégory Alldritt.
The only few gray areas concerned the distribution and hierarchy of forwards and backs, as well as the position of fly-half. To be associated with Captain Dupont and compensate for the absence of Romain Ntamack, package after a rupture of the cruciate ligament of the left knee contracted during the preparation, Antoine Hastoy and Matthieu Jalibert are in the right car. It remains to be seen who will be prioritized for the position in the opening match against the All Blacks on September 8 at the Stade de France. The Bordeaux-Bègles opener seems to hold the rope in front of the Rochelais, European champion but not really brilliant in Nantes.
Among the forwards, hookers Julien Marchand and Peato Mauvaka – sparkling at La Beaujoire – will be there, alongside props Uini Atonio and Réda Wardi. In the second line, the staff can count on Thibaud Flament, Cameron Woki or Paul Willemse. The third row is well supplied with Alldritt, Charles Ollivon, François Cros, back to his best level, or Sékou Macalou, capable of evolving as a winger. On the rear side, Antoine Dupont, his lining Maxime Lucu, centers Fickou and Jonathan Danty, wingers Gabin Villière and Damian Penaud, and finally Thomas Ramos, will all be there too. The number 3 spot in the scrum half position was awarded to Baptiste Couilloud to the detriment of Baptiste Serin, among the trainees at Capbreton but too fair to stay.
Jelonch of the journey, Bielle-Biarrey too
To complete the set, Galthié kept talking about “collective experience”, half-heartedly confirming several players used to gatherings in Marcoussis. It is therefore not surprising to find quoted hooker Pierre Bourgarit, who is also very comfortable against the Scots, and full-back Melvyn Jaminet, in good shape against Fiji. At the expense of Brice Dulin, the back of Stade Rochelais.
The thorny cases of Anthony Jelonch and Cyril Baille have been settled. For the first city, absent from the XV since his operation last March, following a rupture of the cruciate ligament of a knee, back after an express convalescence, the staff judged that his state of form was sufficient to integrate durably the effective. As for the essential Baille, who should not be back before the end of the hens due to a physical problem in the calf, Galthié decided to integrate him by taking a group with six pillars, just to protect himself from a possible disappointment.
A half-surprise: the presence of the inexperienced but versatile winger / rear of the UBB Louis Bielle-Biarrey (20 years old, 3 selections), as the performances of the three-quarter during the preparation matches have more than convinced at the top -place. Ethan Dumortier, holder at the last Six Nations Tournament, paid the price directly.
A final uncertainty concerned Arthur Vincent, highly esteemed by the management but absent from the selection for two years, due to successive injuries. The friendly against Fiji, looking like a final evaluation for the Montpellier player, therefore reassured the management of the Blues. Too bad for Pau Emilien Gailleton, whose fine performance against Scotland a few days earlier made Galthié hesitate, only for a time.
The group of 33 for the World Cup
Pillars (6): Baille, Gros, Wardi; Aldegheri, Atonio, Falatea.
Hookers (3): Marchand, Mauvaka, Bourgarit.
Second row (4): Flament, Willemse, Woki, Taofifenua.
Third line (6): Alldritt, Boudehent, Ollivon, Cros, Jelonch, Macalou.
Scrum-half (3): Dupont (cap.), Lucu, Couilloud.
Fly-half (2): Hastoy, Jalibert.
Centers (4) : Fickou, Danty, Moefana, Vincent.
Wingers/backs (5): Penaud, Villière, Bielle-Biarrey; Ramos, Jaminet.
The 12 reservists
Bamba, Cretin, Barlot, Chalureau, Laclayat, Tanga, Tofifenua, Verhaeghe, Dulin, Dumortier, Gailleton, Serin.
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