Unless there is a last minute change, the group that will face Ireland (Saturday February 12 at 5.45 p.m.) in the shock of the second day of the Six Nations Tournament is now known. Friday, the coach of the Blues, Fabien Galthié – back from isolation after his positive test for Covid-19 -, revealed the composition of a XV of France without much surprise.
Deprived of Jonathan Danty, injured against Italy, it is Yoram Moefana who will start in the center alongside Gaël Fickou. Entering the game to replace Danty during the victory (37-10) against Italy, it only took Moefana twenty short minutes to create shifts and be involved in the last two French tries.
The 21-year-old Bordelo-Béglais is again preferred to Virimi Vakatawa, less prominent since his withdrawal from the autumn tour. The latter has not evolved with the Blues since the defeat (27-23) at the end of the Six Nations 2021 against Scotland.
The uncertainties hovered above all over the composition of the package of forwards. By establishing Cameron Woki in the second row and Dylan Cretin in the third row against the Nazionale, the staff of the Blues relied on mobility to overwhelm Kieran Crowley’s players. To meet the challenge of more powerful Irishmen and masters in the art of keeping the ball in the rucks, the Toulousain François Cros was preferred to Cretin. He was also with Anthony Jelonch and Grégory Alldritt the third line aligned during the impressive victory (40-25) against the Blacks in the fall.
And when asked why chain Woki rather than integrating Bernard Le Roux, powerful and insatiable tackler, Fabien Galthié decided: “Woki is a tough player, a 22-year-old young fighter who has had incredible experiences with us in the second and third rows. Cameron has aerial and running qualities, he is considered a lightweight player…at 115kg “he concluded with a hint of irony in his voice.
The composition of the Blues against Ireland: Baille, Marchand, Atonio – Woki, Willemse – Jelonch, Alldritt, Cros – Dupont ©, Ntamack – Villière, Moefana, Fickou, Penaud, Jaminet.
Finishers: Mauvaka, Gros, Bamba, Taofifenua, Flament, Cretin, Lucu, Ramos
Note that Ireland will have to deal with a big blow: the package of its captain and half opening Johnny Sexton (hamstrings), so brilliant against Wales at the opening of the Tournament.