The hardest part has surely been done. Winner of the most important match in this group A against the All Blacks (27-13), the French team continues, Thursday September 14, against a less feared opponent: Uruguay. Kick-off at 9 p.m., at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium, in Lille. Follow the meeting live with us.
>> Rugby World Cup: three things to know about Uruguay before their match against the XV of France
• Maintain momentum. Thanks to its victory at the opening of “its” World Cup, the France team can calmly approach the rest of the group stage against three opponents logically weaker than New Zealand: Uruguay, Namibia and ‘Italy. Facing the Teors, seventeenth in the world rankings, the Blues will aim to maintain momentum and confidence by winning by as wide a margin as possible.
• A largely overhauled team. Coach Fabien Galthié has decided to rotate the majority of his squad for this second World Cup meeting. Only three players who started against New Zealand (27-13) will be there again against Uruguay: second row Cameron Woki, center Yoram Moefana and winger Gabin Villière. The Antoine Dupont-Matthieu Jalibert hinge does not appear on the match sheet and will be replaced by Maxime Lucu and Antoine Hastoy.
• The return of Anthony Jelonch. This is the big news from the composition of the French XV announced by Fabien Galthié: the return to the game of Anthony Jelonch. Victim of a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the last Six Nations Tournament, the second row returns to the field for the first time, precisely six months and eight days after his operation. He will even wear the captain’s armband.