Coach Fabien Galthié unveiled this Thursday the composition of XV de France which will face Japan on Saturday (8 a.m. French time) at Toyota Stadium in Aichi, on the occasion of the first match of the Blues summer tour.
Hooker Pierre Bourgarit, prop and future Toulonnais Dany Priso, and second-row Thomas Lavault will start the game on the substitutes’ bench. The latter should therefore experience his very first selection for the France team.
Same fate for the Pau opening half and future Rochelais, Anthony Hastoy. On the other hand, Yoan Tanga (25) will start in the third row. A first for the future ex-racingman.
It will also be a first for Bordeaux second-line Thomas Jolmes (26), who played with the Maritimes from 2017 to 2020. His UBB teammates Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert will form the tricolor hinge.
Another major lesson from this starting fifteen composed by Fabien Galthié, the return of Toulonnais Charles Ollivon (29) who finds the Blues and his captain’s armband after more than a year without selection because of a knee injury.
The tricolor staff opted for a bench made up of six forwards and two three-quarters. France remains on eight consecutive victories (test matches and Six Nations tournament) and could thus establish a new record of invincibility in the event of success on Saturday in Japan.
The composition of the XV of France
Holders : Jaminet – Penaud, Vakatawa, Moefana, Lebel – (o) Jalibert, (m) Lucu – Ollivon (cap.), Tanga, Cretin – Jolmes, Flament – Bamba, Mauvaka, Gros
Substitutes : Bourgarit, Priso, Falatea, Lavault, Tolofua, Macalou, Couilloud, Hastoy