The XV of France finds, this Saturday morning (7:45 am) in Tokyo, the Japanese for their last match of the international season.
Where to see the first test match of the Blues?
As for the first test match of the XV of France tour in Japan, it is TF1 which will broadcast the second confrontation between the Japanese and the Blues. A meeting commented by François Trillo and Benjamin Kayser. Early kick-off, scheduled for 7:45 a.m. This match will also be followed live with commentary on Le Figaro Sport .
An almost unchanged team
After the first conclusive test match (42-23), Fabien Galthié and his staff decided to bet on continuity by aligning 14 of the 15 holders present last week. The pack, led by captain Charles Ollivon, is thus renewed in its entirety, as is the hinge of the UBB, Maxime Lucu-Matthieu Jalibert. Uncertain weather, their teammate at Bordeaux-Bègles, Yoram Moefana, will hold his place well in the center of the attack, alongside Virimi Vakatawa.
The composition XV of France:
Spring – Penaud, Moefana, Vakatawa, Lebel – (o) Jalibert, (m) Lucu – Ollivon (cap.), Tanga, Cretin – Jolmes, Flament – Bamba, Mauvaka, Gros
Substitutes : Bourgarit, Prison, Falatea, Lavault, Diallo, Macalou, Couilloud, Hastoy.
The Spring Phenomenon
The only small novelty in the composition of the Blues comes from the first tenure of young Max Spring at the back (21 years old). A phenomenon of precocity, it exploded at the highest level this season at Racing 92, despite ultra-tough competition. “It is a rough diamond, which needs to be polished. He still needs to work but he was born rugby, he lives rugby. It’s more than a passion: he loves this sport so much, he loves this game so much», underlines Laurent Travers, his manager in the Hauts-de-Seine. Fabien Galthié’s staff did not hesitate to shake up their habits: Melvyn Jaminet had indeed just chained twelve consecutive tenures at the back, the last during the first test. It is up to the young number 15 from Altosequan to seize his chance and shake up the hierarchy one year from the World Cup in France.
Read alsoFive things to know about the young back of the XV of France, Max Spring
What to expect from the Japanese?
Last week, the Brave Blossoms competed for half time with the Blues (13-13 at the break), before exploding on returning from the locker room and conceding four tries. Even if the Japanese do not have the efficiency and the striking force that they had during “their” World Cup in 2019, they nevertheless tried to impose rhythm and long sequences of play. … What about their intentions this Saturday? Fabien Galthié expects them to change tack. “No doubt they will offer more dispossession, which is more like a European rugby“, advances the tricolor coach, who “expects them to offer more balance in their game. Their DNA is still to carry the ball a lot in front of the defensive line.From there to make doubt the troop of Charles Ollivon?
A record series for history
Last week, the Blues had managed to sign a ninth victory in a row, one better than their glorious predecessors in 1998, 2001-2002 and 2004. But we have to go back far in the annals to find traces of the record of consecutive victories of the English: between 1931 and 1937, they had won ten matches in a row, but with eight victories over… Germany. This Saturday, the Habs of Fabien Galthié can equal this record against Japan. And try to continue their momentum, in November, against Australia, South Africa and again Japan. For the time being, all the players and the staff repeat that they do not pay attention to this record story. Really ?
Sixteen players will not have played
To choose is to renounce. By deciding not to upset his team for the second test, Fabien Galthié and his staff made people unhappy. Of the 41 players who made the trip to Japan, sixteen will not have played a single minute of play. Among the forwards, they are Matthias Haddad (La Rochelle), Thomas Laclayat (Oyonnax), Matis Perchaud (Bayonne ), Rémi Piquette (La Rochelle), Swan Rebbadj (Toulon), Christopher Tolofua (Toulon), Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer (UBB) and Rémy Baget (Bayonne). Substitute for the second test, Ibrahim Diallo (Racing 92) could also be part of this group if he does not come into play. Behind, Romain Buros (UBB), Louis Carbonel (Montpellier), Jules Favre (La Rochelle), Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92), Louis Lebrun (Castres), Aymeric Luc (Toulon), Enzo Reybier (Oyonnax) and Tani Vili (UBB) did not play against the Japanese.
«We were tempted to spin. Players have come to work with us for three or even four weeks and will not have the chance to wear the shirt, explained Fabien Galthié. I hope this will increase their motivation tenfold, their vision of their short and medium term career, the requirement too, and that it will make them want to come back, that they believe in themselves. We can say that we opened up the team a lot to other potentials.And to conclude: “They didn’t wear the shirt but they didn’t waste their time.”