2023-06-21 11:22:28
Fabien Galthié unveiled this Wednesday the expanded group of 42 players who will prepare for the World Cup in France (September 8-October 28).
End of suspense. It is by a simple press release, without any justification or press conference, that the staff of the Blues revealed the names of the 42 elected to prepare for the World Cup in France, which will begin in early September. With the exception of Anthony Jelonch who started a race against time after his rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee during the Tournament, Fabien Galthié and his assistants do not have to deplore injuries among their senior players, this famous “premium team”.
Thus we find the internationals present within the Stade Toulousain (Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Cyril Baille, Thibaud Flament, Julien Marchand, Thomas Ramos …), freshly champion of France, or La Rochelle (Uini Atonio, Grégory Alldritt , Jonathan Danty), the reigning double European champion. But also the essential Charles Ollivon (Toulon), former captain, Cameron Woki (Racing 92), less prominent this season, Sekou Macalou (Stade Français), Damian Penaud (ex-Clermont, UBB), Gabin Villière (Toulon), regularly injured this year and the revelation Ethan Dumortier (Lyon). Only small surprise, the absence of Toulouse winger Matthis Lebel.
Serin and Dulin not called up since March 2021
At the post of right pillar behind the irremovable Uini Atonio and his lining Jean-Baptiste Gros, the staff retained Dorian Aldegheri, who returned to the race at the last moment. Note that Thomas Laclayat, who wreaked havoc with Oyonnax in Pro D2, and Bemba Bamba (Lyon), who had disappeared from the radar, are among the lucky ones elected to the post of pillar. At the heel, the third folding seat behind Toulouse’s Julien Marchand and Peato Mauvaka, finally goes to Pierre Bourgarit (La Rochelle), author of a big end to the season with the Maritimes.
There were nevertheless some questions before the announcement of this group. Finally, the tricolor staff decided: Baptiste Serin (Toulon) was called up to the position of scrum half, behind Antoine Dupont and Maxime Lucu, a first since 2021. He will be in the fight with Baptiste Couilloud (Lyon) for the place of position number 3.
At the back, behind the essential Thomas Ramos, author of an excellent Six Nations Tournament, Brice Dulin was recalled. His last selection dated back, like Baptiste Serin, to March 2021 and a narrow defeat against Scotland at the Stade de France. Anthony Bouthier (Montpellier), revealed during the Six Nations 2020, is not in the list. The number 15 of the MHR had however been selected for the mini-internship in Marcoussis at the beginning of June.
New material pas retenu
The last question concerned Emmanuel Meafou. The powerful second line of Stade Toulousain, of Australian origin, has long been in the small papers of Fabien Galthié and his assistants, who are still awaiting a waiver from World Rugby for him to be eligible for the France team. Small problem, during the final against the Maritimes, he was hit in the plantar fascia. He should be absent for two months and miss the preparation of the Blues. The tricolor staff decided not to take any risks and not to call him for the preparation.
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Unsurprisingly, two young people with great potential are among the lucky ones. Émilien Gailleton (Pau), who finished top scorer in the Top 14 this season (14 tries), and Louis Bielle-Biarrey (UBB), particularly prominent this season, have been called up to the Blues. These two young people had not been selected for the Under-20 World Cup (June 24 to July 14 in South Africa). Which suggested that they were going to be in the group of 42 players for the “big” World Cup.
The announcement of this list is the first symbolic step on the road to the World Cup. The following ? The group of 42 will leave for an internship from July 3 in Monaco. The final 33-man Worlds skimming will then take place on August 21. For this World Cup, the Blues will play four preparation matches: two against Scotland (August 5 in Edinburgh and August 12 in Saint-Etienne), another against Fiji (August 19 in Nantes) and a final one, when the group final will be known, against Australia (August 26 at the Stade de France).
The list of 42 players selected
Pillars: Baille (Toulouse), Wardi (La Rochelle), Gros (Toulon), Atonio (La Rochelle), Aldegheri Toulouse), Bamba (Lyon), Laclayat (Oyonnax).
Hookers: Marchand (Toulouse), Mauvaka (Toulouse), Bourgarit (La Rochelle).
Second line: Woki (Racing 92), Flament (Toulouse), R. Taofifenua (Lyon), Willemse (Montpellier), Chalureau (Montpellier), Verhaeghe (Montpellier).
Third line: Alldritt (La Rochelle), Ollivon (Toulon), Cros (Toulouse), Macalou (Stde Français), Boudehent (La Rochelle), Cretin (Lyon), Tanga (La Rochelle).
Scrum half: Dupont (Toulouse), Lucu (UBB), Couilloud (Lyon), Serin (Toulon).
Fly-half: Ntamack (Toulouse), Jalibert (UBB), Hastoy (La Rochelle).
Centres : Fickou (Racing 92), Danty (La Rochelle), Moefana (UBB), Vincent (Montpellier), Gailleton (Pau).
Wing-backs: Penaud (UBB), Villière (Toulon), Ramos (Toulouse), Jaminet (Toulouse), Dumortier (Lyon), Bielle-Biarrey (UBB), Dulin (La Rochelle).
Currently injured : Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse), Sipili Falatea (UBB), Yacouba Camara (Montpellier), Gaëtan Barlot (Castres).
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