The Blues face the XV de la Rose in a Crunch at stake for the last day of the Tournament, Saturday evening.
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You don’t change a team that wins. Fabien Galthié revealed, Thursday March 14, the composition of the French XV to welcome England on the last day of the Six Nations Tournament, Saturday March 16, at Groupama Stadium in Lyon. The Blues staff chose to renew the team which largely won in Wales (45-24) last weekend. This is the first time in this Six Nations that the same team will start two consecutive matches.
“What made this sequence possible was first of all last weekend’s performance, the fact that there was no injured player, that gives the possibility of playing two matches in six days, that makes it possible to go faster in the preparation which was a little shorter”explained Fabien Galthié to justify his choices. Nolann Le Garrec is thus kept in the fray alongside Thomas Ramos, who once again takes on the role of flyhalf in the absence of Matthieu Jalibert, and whose leadership qualities on the field Galthié praised.
In the wake of the Racing player, the three novices in the match against Wales, Emmanuel Meafou, Nicolas Depoortere and Léo Barré all followed up with a second selection and a second start. “Léo Barré, Nicolas Depoortere, Emmanuel Meafou, Thibaud Flament, Georges-Henri Colombe brought a lot, a lot of energy”appreciated the French coach. In the first line, Julien Marchand is once again preferred to Peato Mauvaka at hooker.
Returning from a minor injury against Wales, captain Grégory Alldritt is present in the third row, where he will be accompanied by the essential François Cros and Charles Ollivon. No change to report either among the finishers, where we will find the eight players who took their places on the bench at the Millennium Stadium, including Rochelais Georges-Henri Colombe, author of a try just after coming into play. “There last week, he showed what he was capable of, that he was performing well with the French team and that he could fit into our framework.”assured forwards coach William Servat.
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, Pa. Boudehent, Lucu, Moefana.