Despite an unsuccessful performance in Rome, the staff of the XV of France renewed the same starting team for the clash in Dublin on Saturday.
Continuity as a key word. The staff orchestrated by Fabien Galthié decided to line up the same starting team as in Italy on Thursday February 9 (29-24 victory) to challenge Ireland on their land, Saturday February 11 at 3:15 p.m. (match to follow on France 2 and france.tv). The average copy provided by the troops of Captain Antoine Dupont therefore had no direct consequences for the starting team.
Baptized in blue in Rome, winger Ethan Dumortier is thus renewed, taking advantage of Gabin Villière’s package. In the absence of Cameron Woki, the Willemse-Flament team does not move in the second line. The irremovable Dupont-Ntamack hinge thus remains in place, just like Thomas Ramos, still preferred to Melvyn Jaminet at the back. The former Usap player is not even among a group of “finishers” to whom you have to turn to see change.
“We we have confidence in our players who have been advancing together for three years”explained Fabien Galthié at a press conference. “We renewed the team because of the performance first [….]the goal has been achieved”he continued in reference to the bonus victory in Rome.
Cros back a year later
A key man for the 2022 Grand Slam but injured in the knee for several months, the third line François Cros returns to the group for the first time in eleven months. “He has a great knowledge of the team and the international level, which is very important for us.”recalled Galthié. Cros replaces numerically Thomas Lavault, in a bench where Romain Taofifenua is the only second line.
24th man in Rome because of a neck injury, scrum half Baptiste Couilloud takes the place of Nolann Le Garrec on the bench. Note the new presence of Sekou Macalou in a “hybrid” role that can alternate between the third line and the wing.
The starting XV: Baille, Marchand, Atonio – Flament, Willemse – Jelonch, Ollivon, Alldritt – Dupont (m), Ntamack (o) – Dumortier, Moefana, Fickou, Penaud – Ramos
Substitutes: Wardi, Barlot, Falatea, R.Taofifenua, Cros, Macalou, Couilloud, Jalibert
