The time for the start of the new school year has sounded for the Blues of the XV of France. Fabien Galthié announced Monday, October 18 the list for the autumn tour to be held during the month of November.
It will last 4 weeks, with a first match on November 6 against Argentina. The Habs will then face Georgia (November 14) as well as the All Blacks (November 20). For each gathering, at least five clubs will send between one and three players, so as to distribute the group between the Top 14 or Pro D2 clubs.
Nine newcomers to the Blues
Thibaud Flament (Toulouse) and Florian Verhaghe (Montpellier) make their first appearance in the workforce of the XV of France. These two young players had not participated in the preparation week or taken place on the field. “They perform in clubs and have a profile that interests us, especially by being efficient on the sidelines and we want to see them train with us. And then we will see, step by step.” explained Fabien Galthié. Players who will bring freshness and for whom the two weeks of preparation will be decisive to enter the 28.
In addition to Flament, the Bordelais Thierry Paiva, Romain Buros and Maxime Lucu, the Toulouse driver Matthis Lebel, the Racingman Donovan Taofifenua, as well as the Castresian Florent Vanverberghe and the Montpellier Florian Verhaeghe will be able to hope to win their first selection. This is also the case for the Clermontois Tani Vili. ” Tani was with us in Australia, we worked with him in the under 20s, and he has real skills. He is a player who is developing and he arrives in the 42 because there are opportunities for him. In particular the two injuries of Vincent and Pierre-louis. ” In total, these Blues have 25 years and 13 selections on average.
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The frames are there
The scrum half Antoine Dupont is obviously present, as are the indestructible Romain Ntamack, Grégory Alldritt, Bernard Le Roux, Julien Marchand or Gaël Fickou. The center of Racing 92, the most experienced player of the Blues, also holds the rope to replace the position of captain the third row of Toulon Charles Ollivon, long injured.
A new captain at the end of the week
Charles Ollivon, injured, will dub his successor on Sunday in training and will take over from the players. To replace the usual captain of the Blues, “a club of five” stands out according to Ibanez: Toulouse’s Antoine Dupont, Anthony Jelonch and Julien Marchand, Racingman Gaël Fickou or Rochelais Grégory Alldritt are mentioned. “Performance, generosity, humility, loyalty will be essential criteria in the choice of the captain”, assured the former international hooker.
An infirmary that fills up
Fabien Galthié must do without two major players for the three meetings: Charles Ollivon, the usual captain of the Blues, injured in the knee since June, and the center Arthur Vincent, also affected in the knee and absent for a minimum of six weeks. More recently, Montpelier right pillar Mohamed Haouas said he suffered a muscle injury, making his presence for the first meeting uncertain. Another absent, Selevasio Tolofua. Sekou Makalou having been preferred to him.
Pierre Bourgarit, the hooker, is also absent. The list expanded to 42 players was a requirement of coach Fabien Galthié, who has already tested this configuration in Australia, last July. The 42 selected players will be brought together at the start of the week, and the group will then be reduced to 28. The 14 not selected will have to return to their homes on Wednesday evening so that they can take part in training with their club the next day.