The XV of France plays its first home match in the Six Nations Tournament against Scotland on Sunday at 4 p.m.
For the first time in 15 games, Fabien Galthié and his staff had to form a composition after a defeat. Beaten in Ireland (32-19) two weeks ago, the XV of France saw the end of its record series of 14 rank victories, which had been running since the fall of 2021. Enough to awaken questions and doubts before face Scotland, Sunday February 26, for their first match of the year at the Stade de France (at 4 p.m., live on France 2 and france.tv).
To try to raise their heads and challenge the undefeated Scots, the staff of the Blues made just one change, forced by Uini Atonio’s suspension. Mohamed Haouas was chosen to start as the right pillar, alongside Julien Marchand and Cyril Baille. This is his first tenure in Blue for two years and the fall 2021 tour.
Holder of the start of Galthié’s mandate on the front line, Mohamed Haouas had played the five meetings of the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Six Nations Tournament, before losing his place. Scotland will not only remind him of good memories, since he was excluded in 2020 at Murrayfield after punching an opponent.
Only one change among the 23
For the rest of his XV, Fabien Galthié and his staff renew the same players as during the first two outings of the Blues in Italy and Ireland. “Our team is coming off a series of 14 consecutive victories. The players who make it up have shown that they know how to take up all the challenges. We judged, with our staff, that there was no reason to modify the team composition”justified the coach.
Antoine Dupont, who will once again wear the captain’s armband, is logically associated with Romain Ntamack at the hinge, while Thomas Ramos is once again preferred to Melvyn Jaminet at the back. The young Ethan Dumortier is taken back to the wing for his third cape. The group of finishers is also unchanged, with in particular the Bordelo-Béglais Silipi Falatea, Atonio’s understudy during the first two meetings.
Starting XV: Baille, Marchand, Haouas – Flament, Willemse – Jelonch, Ollivon, Alldritt – Dupont (m), Ntamack (o) – Dumortier, Moefana, Fickou, Penaud – Ramos
Substitutes: Wardi, Barlot, Falatea, R.Taofifenua, Cros, Macalou, Couilloud, Jalibert