Tickets are getting more and more expensive. Ten months before the 2023 World Cup in France, the Blues are preparing to play three matches (against Australia on Saturday November 5, against South Africa on November 12, and Japan on November 20) to train a little plus the contours of the “globalist” group. All holders during the last Six Nations Tournament, François Cros, Gabin Villière and Melvyn Jaminet will not be on this autumn tour. Their replacements, including ex-captain Charles Ollivon, will have to get up to speed from the first match against Australia, Saturday November 5 at 9 p.m. (on France 2 and france.tv).
Second line: a golden opportunity for Thibaud Flament
A year after his first selection against Argentina (29-20), Thibaud Flament (25) continues his rise. Confined to coming into play during the Six Nations, the Toulousain will start alongside Cameron Woki against Australia, after Paul Willemse’s package for this first match of the autumn tour.
“Thibaud does not have the same profile as Paul (Willemse) but in the balance of our team, you have to know how to adapt. Thibaud can play at the opening, that’s where he started before growing up “, declared Fabien Galthié Thursday, to justify this tenure. Preferred to the experienced Romain Taofifenua (32 years old, 35 selections), who will start on the bench at the Stade de France, Thibaud Flament therefore has a great opportunity for his tenth cap, to show his technical and aerial qualities.
Third line: Charles Ollivon wants to become boss again
Fallen during his long convalescence, Charles Ollivon will not regain the captaincy, retained by Antoine Dupont. Should we see a clue as to the place of the Toulon flanker in the hierarchy? However, he will leave as a starter during this tour, the injury of François Cros removing a rival for this position. But the question will arise in the longer term, when Cros, actor of the Grand Slam 2022, returns.
See you Saturday at 8:45 p.m. @France2tv #FRAAUS pic.twitter.com/wvx4FX7sGW
— Matthieu Lartot (@lartot) November 3, 2022
Absent for a year but locker room leader and captain in Japan in July, Ollivon has no more time to waste. “There is no problem with him, quite the contrary, said assistant coach William Servat at a press conference. He came back with us with a lot of passion and commitment in everything he does.“ His profile as a jumper in touch, very athletic and more prominent with the ball in hand than Cros, is an asset. In good shape with Toulon, he must convince the staff to put him back at the heart of the project.
Wing: Yoram Moefana, more than an interim?
Whooping cough of the blue public with his red helmet and his fire support, Gabin Villière, hit in the ankle, will not be on this tour. The Toulonnais may shine in selection, his repeated absences raise questions. He is replaced for this month of November by Yoram Moefana, repositioned on the wing for the occasion. This three-quarter training center has already endorsed number 11 in selection. That he is preferred to Matthis Lebel, a specialist in the position and in top form with Toulouse, is not trivial.
Puncher and excellent defender, Moefana has the advantage of being versatile. Continuing its momentum would allow the Bordelo-Béglais to obtain, at least, a place on the bench for the World Cup.
Rear: finally the hour of Thomas Ramos?
One could write a novel about Ramos’ contrasting relationship with the Blues. Always quoted, the Toulouse rear has almost systematically been shunned by Fabien Galthié. The coach preferred Anthony Bouthier and Brice Dulin to him, before the advent of Melvyn Jaminet. We even thought his chances were overshadowed this summer, when the ex-Catalan signed in Toulouse. But at 27, Thomas Ramos proves at the start of the season that he is maturing, and here he is on Saturday. His successful interim at the opening with the Rouge et Noir, in the absence of Romain Ntamack, showed that his qualities as a facilitator remained intact.
Jaminet’s injury allows him to find his favorite position with the Blues. The game at the foot of Ramos, third best French director in the Top 14 (91 points), is a real asset. Despite the repositioning of Matthieu Jalibert, tested at the back in training, the Toulousain will start this tour as a starter. And will want to overthrow a hierarchy that may be more fluid than it seems.