eight changes in the starting team, Grégory Alldritt back… Discover the composition of the French XV against Wales

The Blues will experience a new hinge and a new pair of centers at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff against the Welsh on Sunday, but will be able to count on their captain.

The change is now. The French XV revealed, Friday March 8, the team which will face Wales this Sunday, with no less than eight changes compared to the one which conceded the draw against Italy (13-13). After three difficult first matches, Fabien Galthié chose to start scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92), second row Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse), center Nicolas Depoortère (Bordeaux-Bègles) and full-back Léo Barré (Stade French), who will have their first tenure with the Blues. For the last three, this match will even be their first with the French team.

Thomas Ramos, starting at full-back since the start of the Tournament, will start the match at the opening following the withdrawal of Matthieu Jalibert, injured in the knee against Italy. At the hooker position, Julien Marchand regains his starting place, ceded to Peato Mauvaka since the start of the competition.

Alldritt and Flament return

Injured against Scotland and absent against Italy, Rochelais Grégory Alldritt starts in the third center line position. After being away from the field since the beginning of January, Thibaut Flament also makes his return to the second row, alongside Emmanuel Meafou.

On the bench, Maxime Lucu finds a finisher role in the scrum, just like Paul Boudehent, starter against Italy to compensate for the absence of Alldritt. For his part, La Rochelle pillar Georges-Henri Colombe has the opportunity to experience his first appearance in the French team.

The composition of the XV of France: Barré – Penaud, Fickou, Depoortere, Bielle-Biarrey – (o) Ramos, (m) Le Garrec – Ollivon, (cap) Alldritt, Cros – Meafou, Flament – Atonio, Marchand, Baille.

On the bench : Mauvaka, S. Taofifenua, Colombe, R. Taofifenua, Roumat, Boudehent, Lucu, Moefana.